Nicholas's car glided smoothly through the city streets, its sleek black frame cutting through the post-rain haze like a shadow. Ella sat quietly in the passenger seat, her hands folded tightly in her lap, her gaze fixed on the blurred reflections of neon lights dancing across the wet pavement. The inside of the car was quiet, filled only with the hum of the engine and the soft rhythm of the rain still clinging to the windows.
Nicholas glanced sideways at her. "You're quiet," he said, his voice calm, almost coaxing.
"I'm just tired," she replied, not looking at him.
He didn't press, letting the silence settle again, but his eyes lingered on her a second longer than necessary.
