As Lucian watched Rose, her face still streaked with the remnants of her tears, he sighed and looked down, gathering his emotions. "Alright, Rose," he said gently, trying to soften his words. "Please… just wipe your face, okay? I'm running late, and I really need to get to college." He tried to add a bit of firmness to his tone, but it came out more like a plea. He couldn't deny the slight tug at his heart, seeing his sister like this, but he wasn't ready to let it show.
Rose nodded, her cheeks flushed from both the embarrassment of crying and the shame of breaking down in front of Lucian. She managed a small, shaky laugh. "I'm fine," she whispered, her voice barely above a murmur as she tried to steady her emotions. But as she looked at Lucian, she could see a guarded look in his eyes a look that had once been open and trusting.
