Chapter 174: Doubting Herself

The apartment grew quiet again.

Amelia lowered her eyes to the mug in her hands.

The hot chocolate had gone warm without her noticing.

She stared at it for a long time before speaking, her voice so soft it almost disappeared into the silence.

"What if we don't find anything?"

Nathan looked at her immediately. "We will."

She slowly shook her head. "What if we don't?"

He opened his mouth to answer, but Amelia continued before he could.

"What if the cameras don't show anything? What if they believe I really stole the paper?" She laughed weakly, though there wasn't a trace of humor in it. "I've worked so hard to get here."

Her fingers tightened around the mug until Nathan gently took it from her hands and placed it on the coffee table.

"I kept telling myself if I studied hard enough." she whispered, blinking rapidly. "If I stayed out of trouble, if I did everything the right way." Her voice broke. "None of this would ever happen."

The tears came without warning. One rolled down her cheek. Then another.

She tried to wipe them away before anyone noticed, but it was pointless. "I could be expelled."

The words finally came out. Barely above a whisper.

"I could lose everything."

Nathan was beside her before she realized he had moved. He sat close enough that their knees touched, then gently took both of her hands into his.

"Look at me."

Amelia couldn't. She stared at the floor instead.

Nathan lifted one hand and gently brushed away a tear that had reached her jaw. "Amelia."

Slowly, she raised her head. His eyes never left hers.

"You are not walking through this alone."

She bit her lip, trying to stop herself from crying harder. "You don't know that."

"I do."

"What if they don't believe me?"

"Then I'll keep talking until somebody does."

"What if..”

Nathan didn't let her finish. He wrapped both arms around her and pulled her gently against his chest.

The sudden warmth broke whatever strength she had been holding onto. She buried her face against his shoulder. The sob that escaped her was quiet, but it carried every ounce of fear she had been trying to hide since morning.

Nathan rested his chin lightly against her hair. One hand moved slowly up and down her back.

He didn't rush her. He didn't tell her to stop crying.

He didn't offer promises he couldn't guarantee. He simply stayed there.

"I'm scared," Amelia whispered between tears.

"I know."

"I've never been this scared before."

His embrace tightened just a little. "I've got you."

She clung to him as though letting go would make the world collapse beneath her feet.

A few minutes passed.

Ryan quietly looked away. Mira's own eyes filled again. Neither of them interrupted.

Eventually, the crying became quieter.

Nathan noticed Amelia's breathing slowing. Her grip on his shirt gradually loosened. He looked down. She had fallen asleep. Exhaustion had finally claimed what fear could no longer sustain.

Nathan smiled sadly. "She hasn't really slept since yesterday."

His voice was barely audible. He slipped one arm beneath her knees and the other behind her back.

Carefully, he lifted her into his arms.

Even asleep, Amelia instinctively leaned closer, resting her head against his chest.

Nathan carried her down the hallway as though she weighed nothing at all. He nudged the bedroom door open with his shoulder. The curtains had already been drawn, leaving the room dim and peaceful.

He laid her gently on the bed.

She stirred slightly. Her fingers caught the sleeve of his shirt for a brief moment before relaxing again.

Nathan tucked the blanket around her shoulders.

A loose strand of hair had fallen across her face.

He carefully brushed it behind her ear.

Then, after watching to make sure she was sleeping peacefully, he quietly switched off the bedside lamp and closed the door behind him.

When Nathan returned to the living room, Mira was sitting cross-legged on the sofa, staring at the floor.

Ryan glanced up. "How is she?"

Nathan exhaled quietly. "She's finally asleep."

Mira nodded. "She needed that."

Silence settled over them again.

Then Mira spoke. "I think I already know who did it."

Nathan looked at her. Ryan did too.Neither of them spoke immediately.

After a few seconds, Ryan nodded slowly.

"Is it the same person I'm thinking about?"

Mira folded her arms. "If we're thinking about Tessa." She looked from Ryan to Nathan. "Then yes."

Ryan leaned back. "I arrived at the same conclusion."

Nathan rubbed a hand over his face. "We don't have proof."

"I know." Ryan's voice remained calm. "Right now, it's only a suspicion."

Mira sighed. "I hope we're right."

Nathan frowned.

She looked up at him. "Not because I want to be right.” Her expression hardened. "But because if it's really her." She looked toward the hallway where Amelia was sleeping. "Then at least we'll know where to look."

The three of them fell silent again.

Outside, the city had begun settling into the quiet rhythm of the night.

Ryan eventually broke the silence. He leaned back against the sofa and looked across at Nathan with a thoughtful smile.

"You know..."

Nathan raised an eyebrow. "What?"

Ryan chuckled softly. "I've been thinking."

"I'm worried."

"You should."

The joke earned the smallest smile from Nathan.

Ryan's expression became more sincere. "When we first met, I thought you were just another hockey player who happened to be good at the sport."

Nathan shrugged. "That's not exactly unfair."

Ryan shook his head. "I was wrong."

Nathan looked at him curiously.

Ryan glanced toward the hallway. "You carried her into that room like your first instinct was to make sure she felt safe before you even thought about yourself."

Nathan didn't respond.

"You never complained when she cried." Ryan smiled faintly. "You just held her." He let out a quiet laugh. "I'd like to end up like that someday."

Nathan frowned. "Like what?"

Ryan rested his arms across the back of the sofa.

"A finished man."

Nathan looked confused.

Ryan smiled. "A man who's found the person he'd choose every single time." His eyes drifted toward the hallway again. "And if life is generous." He grinned. "Someone like Amelia."

Nathan looked toward the closed bedroom door. A slow smile found its way onto his face.

"I don't think there's another Amelia."

Ryan laughed softly. "Exactly."

For the first time since the nightmare had begun that morning, the apartment felt just a little less heavy.

Tomorrow would bring questions, evidence, answers, but tonight, their only job was making sure Amelia didn't have to face any of it alone.