I remained rooted in my spot, my gaze locked onto the polished marble floor, unwilling to provoke Roman with a glance. Julian, however, broke the tension with a gentle tap on my shoulder. "See you outside," he murmured before turning to take his leave, offering a slight bow to Roman that was both respectful and dismissive.
As he exited the house, silence enveloped the kitchen, punctuated only by the soft echo of Roman's shoes clicking against the marble tiles as he ascended the staircase without uttering a word.
I finally released a breath I hadn't realized I was holding, the tension slowly dissipating from my body.
****
