ANNA'S POV

I didn’t respond to what Ryan said immediately.

Instead, I lowered my gaze to the phone resting in my hands, staring at the screen for a brief moment as if it might suddenly disappear. My fingers hesitated, then I swiped up. There was no password. No lock.

The screen opened straight into a WhatsApp conversation.

Ryan and Tracey.

I felt my chest tighten for a second, and before I could stop myself, I lifted my head and glanced at both of them. Ryan stood quietly, his expression calm but expectant, while Tracey sat still, her hands folded neatly on her lap. Neither of them looked nervous. If anything,...