Chapter 112. Pull Over

ARDEN

The ride back to the Callahan estate was quiet.

The village celebration had ended with polite smiles, but there was a heaviness in the air no one wanted to address, especially not after the question about Bethany having Viremia settled among those present.

We had left before dessert was served.

Now, only the distant hum of the engine filled the silence. Cade was behind the wheel, his grip light, but his brows furrowed. I kept my gaze on the window, watching trees blur past us, but my thoughts were far from the road.

“You already knew,” Cade said quietly.

I nodded, letting out a slow sigh. “I found out when she visited us.”

There was no point hiding this from Cade. “When she went out to the balcony and I followed her,” I added. “She tried to hide it, but I saw her blood-tinged hands. That’s when I knew.”

Cade didn’t respond for a moment. “I see,” he finally muttered.

“You’re not surprised?”

He shook his head, gaze stil