CLAIRE

Julian read the email I'd sent over my shoulder, then closed my laptop gently. "You handled that well," he said.

"I had to tell them the truth," I replied, rubbing my tired eyes. "They deserved to know what happened."

Julian stood up and walked to the kitchen, filling a glass with water and bringing it back to me.

"Drink," he said, setting it in front of me. "You've been staring at that screen for two hours without a break."

I took the glass and drank, realizing how thirsty I was. Julian sat back down beside me, his expression serious but calm.

"I don't want you to worry about any...