Chapter 183

Kelly POV

Harper was avoiding me. It wasn’t like the usual tantrums when she was upset over bedtime or not getting a second helping with ice cream. This was different. It had been days now, long enough for the silence to settle like a weight in my chest.

She wouldn’t sit next to me at breakfast. Wouldn’t let me brush her hair. Wouldn’t even look me in the eyes when I spoke to her. But she clung to Adrian.

If Adrian walked into a room, she was at his side in seconds, grabbing his hand, leaning against him, giggling at every little thing he said. She held onto him like he was her safe place, like she was afraid of something. Or someone.

And that someone was me. I didn’t know what I had done. But I knew it was breaking me.

***

It was bedtime when I finally couldn’t take it anymore. Adrian had just tucked Harper in, but instead of curling into her blankets the way she usually did, she turned away from me when I walked into the room.

I swa