Chapter 204. Talk to her Alone

Caleb’s POV

I step in front of Aurora without thinking, my body moving on instinct to shield her from the view as I fix my gaze on the man standing before us. My chest tightens as I lock eyes with Shane, his presence stirring a whirlwind of emotions inside me. His expression flickers with something unreadable—surprise, amusement, maybe even irritation. But I don’t waver. My voice comes out firm, steady.

“What are you doing here?”

Shane exhales sharply, a smirk tugging at his lips as he crosses his arms over his chest. “Not even a little happy to see me, Caleb?” His tone is light, teasing, but I catch the edge beneath it. A test. A challenge. As if he’s waiting to see whether I’ll acknowledge the years, the past, the history between us.

I feel the weight of Aurora behind me, her quiet presence grounding me even as my emotions threaten to spiral. I want to tell Shane that I don’t have the energy for this right now, that I have bigger things to worry abou