Chapter 30

Vera's POV

I stood outside Nathan's door for over twenty minutes, silently debating with myself. His door was wide open, but he didn’t even look up or acknowledge my presence. That was unlike him. Lately, he always seemed distracted, preoccupied, like his mind was far away even when he was right in front of me.

Eventually, I gave up and turned away. Maybe I was overthinking. Nathan was an adult…handsome, responsible, stable. He had every right to find love, to move on, to be distant if something else or someone else was occupying his attention. I had no right to snoop or intrude. He’d always been kind to me, careful not to cross lines, and I didn’t want to return kindness with suspicion.

Still, the silence between us felt… different.

I walked to my apartment, fumbling with the keys like it was the first time I was trying to open the door. My hands were shaking, and not just because of the chilly wind brushing my skin. I was still reeling from