Penny stepped into the laboratory, the hum of machines filling the space, vibrating faintly through her chest. The tension between Jeremy and Adam hit her immediately. Jeremy's glare was sharp, calculated, full of malice, while Adam met it with a cold, unflinching anger. The air itself seemed heavy, thick with intent. Penny instinctively froze, sensing the danger in the space between them.
She looked to Aunt Melanie for guidance, hoping the older woman could take control of the moment. Melanie's gaze, however, was fixed entirely on Adam. Her lips were parted slightly, and a flush colored her cheeks. She was mesmerized by him, entirely caught up in the weight of his presence. Penny's frustration spiked. Melanie was useless in this moment. She shifted her focus immediately, dismissing her aunt as an option.
