LILY

I stood frozen on the spot, staring at the figure holding out his hand. He wore a perfect, measured smile that felt entirely practiced, completely off, and deeply unsettling.

“Uhm... I...” He was forced to awkwardly retract his hand before I finally reached out, shaking it as briefly and gently as possible.

“I'm Lily.” He was stunned for two seconds before that damn, artificial smile crept right back onto his face.

I immediately pulled my hand back, wiping my palm against my cloth.

“Lovely kids,” he said smoothly, his eyes casually drifting to Noah, who was excitedly scurrying around me. Noah grinned, entirely oblivious, while I stood frozen, my...