Kiana’s POV
Dinner at home was usually a quiet affair, but tonight, the air was thick with tension. My mother’s piercing gaze hadn’t left me since I stepped into the house, her expression a mix of suspicion and barely contained frustration. I could feel it in the way she moved, the way her eyes narrowed when she thought I wasn’t looking.
I stirred the pasta on my plate absently, avoiding her gaze. My stepdad was at the head of the table, cheerfully recounting some story about work, completely oblivious to the unspoken battle brewing between me and Mom.
“So, Kiana,” Mom said, her voice breaking through his conversations. She leaned forward slightly, her tone casual but her eyes sharp. “How’s work? I hear there’s been some exciting developments with the new equipment.”
I froze, my f
