Page 122 of What Comes Around

Just like that.

Decision made.

No consultation needed.

A tiny part of me knew I should probably be annoyed. But I wasn’t. If anything, it felt weirdly on brand for him.

Across the office, Priya let out a low whistle. “Committed relationship.”

Claire spun in her chair so fast her headset nearly flew off. “Called it,” she said, like she’d been waiting for this moment.

“Girl,” Nora added, not even looking up from her screen. “The entire office knew already. It was so obvious.”

Heat crept up my neck.

“It was a PR statement,” I said.

Priya gave me a look. The kind that said: sure, keep telling yourself that.

It was a bit past five when we headed home. Since I’d come in with Knox that morning, he’d actually wrapped up on time for once. Normally he didn’t leave before six. Sometimes not until eight.

The moment we stepped out of Sinclair Enterprises, the noise hit me like a wall.

I stopped short.

The sidewalk was packed, denser than I had ever seen it. Paparazzi. Onlookers. People pretending not to stare while very obviously staring. Phones were already raised, recording.

Two more security guards moved in behind us, stepping ahead to carve a narrow path through the crowd.

Nathan was already in motion.

He stepped out of the car the second he saw us, posture sharpening, his gaze sweeping everything. The crowd. The street. The rooftops. Every possible angle.

He didn’t say a word. Just flicked a series of quick hand signals to Lena.

She caught them immediately, nodded once, and shifted into position behind me.

Nathan took point. The guards flanked us, arms out, holding people back as best they could.

Sensing my hesitation, Knox’s arm came around my shoulders, pulling me into his side as we started forward.

Titan stayed tight against Knox’s left leg, muscles coiled, ears twitching at every shout.

The noise swelled as we moved.

That short walk to the car felt endless.

“Knox! Is the baby yours?”

“Mr. Sinclair, are you the father?”

“Ashley, did you steal your sister’s boyfriend?”

“How does it feel to be part of a murder scandal?”

Knox’s grip tightened, drawing me closer, shielding me as much as he could.

Someone loudly shouted my name.