Alice

“I’m glad you’re finally here,” Mom said brightly the moment I stepped inside the house. The excitement in her voice was unmistakable, as if she had something she couldn’t wait to show off. “Your Uncle Lance is already here.”

My chest tightened.

Slowly, I turned my head in the direction she was pointing—and there he was.

Lance.

Casually seated on the sofa, one arm draped over the backrest, his posture relaxed… yet his gaze was fixed straight on me. As if he had known—no, expected—that I would walk in at that exact moment.

“I’m glad you’re here,” Mom repeated, still smiling as if there was no tension hanging thickly...