Chapter 358

That evening, the house felt too quiet. Riyana sat on the edge of her bed, phone pressed to her ear, listening more than speaking. The window beside her was slightly open, letting in cool air and the distant sounds of passing cars. Her mind wasn’t fully on the conversation. It hadn’t been all day. Everything felt heavy, like she was carrying too much and couldn’t put any of it down. “Yes… I understand,” she said softly into the phone, staring at the floor. A pause. “Okay. I’ll call you later.” She ended the call slowly and placed the phone beside her. For a few seconds, she just sat there, not moving. Then she heard it. The sound of a car pulling into the front yard. Her first thought was simple. Rose. She stood up without much thought and walked toward the window. She pulled the curtain slightly to the side, careful not to make noise, and looked down. Her breath stopped. It wasn’t Rose’s car. It was Jabco’s. Her chest tightened immediately. Confusion came first, then irritation, then