(Michelle Lui's POV)
The living room slowly thawed from the emotional freeze that had hit after Steven blurted out she matters and after I shut both him and Anthony down.
Everyone dispersed.
Kind of.
Not really.
They pretended to.
But the energy in the room stayed taut — like we were all strings tied to the same center, and one wrong pull would make us all snap again.
Kate sat beside me, rubbing slow circles on my back like I was a traumatized cat.
"You okay?" she whispered.
I nodded… then immediately shook my head.
Kate sighed in the way only emotionally exhausted rich girls could.
"Okay, sweetie, which one stressed you out the most?
One blink for Steven.
Two for Anthony.
Three for every man in this penthouse."
I blinked seventeen times.
She snorted. "That tracks."
Across the room, Andy sat on the armrest beside me, quiet for once — chin resting on his palm, gaze subtly tracking my breathing like he was checking if I'd hyperventilate again.
