Nicholas didn't know why he had turned the car around.
Maybe it was the way Ella had smiled at him — small, forced, like she was trying to pretend she was fine when she wasn't. Maybe it was the unease gnawing at his gut ever since he drove off.
He told himself he would just check — just one more time — to make sure she was really okay.
When he pulled up near the house again, he saw nothing unusual at first.
But then, through the cracked window, he heard it.
A groan.
Low. Broken.
Nicholas stilled, his entire body going rigid.
Another sound followed — a sharp cry, quickly muffled.
The world narrowed to a single point of focus.
Without thinking, he was out of the car and racing to the door. His heart slammed against his ribs with every step. His hand tried the doorknob — locked.
"Ella!" he shouted, pounding his fist against the wood. No answer — just another faint whimper from inside.
Panic roared in his blood, drowning out reason.
