Sometime into the night, soft footsteps approached, steady and unhurried. A faint scent of citrus and pine filled the air before something warm draped over my shoulders.

I opened my eyes and found Hunter, Hayden's uncle, crouching slightly beside me. His suit jacket now covered me, shielding me from the chill I hadn't even realized had seeped into my bones.

"Oh... I must have been a mess," I murmured, offering a bitter smile.

Hunter, ever composed, merely tilted his head.

"Hey, if you're not feeling it, don't force it. Divorce... it can be a fresh start. A chance to be free."

I hadn't realized he'd overheard my earlier conversation with Hayden. But his words settled over me like a quiet reassurance. I'd expected him to be angry, to defend Hayden, but instead, he offered something that felt dangerously close to kindness.

Hunter stood to leave, but on instinct, I reached out and caught his hand. The warmth of his palm was grounding, steady in a way that made me reluctant to let go. Before I could even process the action, his teasing voice broke the silence.

"What? Intrigued?" His tone was light, but amusement danced in his eyes. "Tomorrow, after the divorce, maybe we'll see where things go. But until then... you're still family. I'm not that kind of guy."

Heat rushed to my cheeks, embarrassment sparking like fire beneath my skin. I recoiled as if burned, jerking my hand back and lowering my gaze. "You're overthinking it," I muttered. "I just wanted to ask... Do you believe me? About Audrey? That I had nothing to do with what happened to her?"

Hunter's expression didn't change, but after a brief pause, he gave a small nod. "Yeah, you're not smart enough for that."

I blinked, momentarily stunned. That was unnecessary.

A dry laugh escaped me, half amused, half self-deprecating. "Even you believe me, yet Hayden doesn't. Just how much does he hate me?"

Hunter exhaled lightly, shaking his head. "Come on, stop brooding. It'll all be over tomorrow. I've got plans tonight, so I'm heading out. Call me if you need anything."

Then, he was gone, leaving me alone once more in the empty villa.

Outside, the snow fell heavier, blanketing the world in an endless sea of white. The night stretched on, silent and unyielding. I sat there, unmoving, unable to sleep. By dawn, everything would finally come to an end.

***

Early in the morning, I reached for my phone, typing out a message.