Lois's breath caught. She understood immediately, and the realization made her stomach churn.
Her mind screamed at her to move, to do something—but her body refused.
It would almost have been easier if Ross had simply forced himself on her.
That way, she could at least tell herself she had no choice.
But to take that step willingly, to cross that line with her own hands, even for her sister's sake… it was a weight she wasn't sure she could bear.
Ross let the silence linger, studying her every twitch and breath.
Then, almost casually, he pulled his chair back in, the faint scrape of the wheels a final note of dismissal.
"I guess not," he said, his tone now as flat as paper. "Have a good day, Miss Johnson. Please close the door when you leave."
Her feet felt heavy as she turned toward the exit, the air in the room thick with the things left unsaid.
