There was a pause on the other end. Then, Jake spoke, his voice thick. "It's... about Charlie. Someone... someone killed him."
The words hit Cameron like a blow. Charlie had been so much more than a pet, he became close to him after Ava left him alone.
For a moment, he struggled to process it. Then his gaze fell back on Ava, and he knew he couldn't share this with her. Not now, not with everything she was going through. He couldn't add to her worries, especially given her pregnancy. She needed peace, not more heartbreak.
Taking a breath, he kept his expression composed, masking the turmoil within. "I'll be there," he said, his voice steady. He hung up, turning back to Ava, who looked at him with a mixture of concern and curiosity.
"Everything okay?" she asked softly, sensing his unease.
