Josie POV

I struggled to breathe, I was too close to him. Ronan was staring at me, his gaze not filled with anger but rather something gentler, which unsettled me after what I had learned. 

I lowered my eyes and stood silently. 

"I'll be back." 

No one seemed to pay much attention, except for him. I felt his gaze follow me all the way to the door.

I went outside, and the cool evening air enveloped me. I kept walking until I was beyond the property. The streetlights glowed around me, and it felt safe; this town had always felt familiar and secure.

Earlier, my mother had mentioned something innocent...