Ava felt a sinking heaviness settle in her stomach. She had been hoping to steer the conversation away from her problems with Dylan, but Lilianna seemed determined not to be deterred. Ava was torn—her instinct was to protect Lilianna and her unborn child from the painful truth.
She parted her lips, but the words caught in her throat.
"Look, Dylan was devastated after our parents' death," Lilianna started. "He was angry, heartbroken, and grieving. And yes, he said some harsh words to your father back then. But it was all born of misunderstanding. Your father came to apologize to us later, explained everything… It was a tragic accident. He wasn't responsible."
Ava's gaze dropped to her hands, her fingers twisting nervously. "I know. He would never hurt his best friend."
