Chapter 49

Ryker

The office was quiet except for the faint ticking of the clock. Avery sat curled on the leather sofa, clutching the blanket around her shoulders. Her eyes were still red from crying, but she was watching me now—hesitant, as if weighing whether to speak.

"Ryker… am I too weak?" she asked suddenly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I almost signed it. That settlement. If you hadn’t come, I th