Chapter 79

Ryan's POV I stared at the photo on my phone, my blood boiling with rage. I had no idea who had sent it or why, but the image alone was enough to twist something sharp in my chest. I couldn't confront Serena about it—what right did I even have? But that didn't stop me from monitoring every sound from next door, my ears practically pressed against the wall. The only small comfort was that they'd kept the door open the entire time. When I finally heard Julian preparing to leave, I set aside my laptop and moved to my door. The timing had to look casual, but I wasn't about to let him strut away without acknowledging the territory he was treading on. Our eyes locked in the hallway. The tension was immediate, thick enough to choke on. Julian didn't hurry off. Instead, he gave me this smug little smile that made my fingers itch to rearrange his face. "So you've moved in right next door," he observed with mock surprise. "Being closer to the water doesn't guarantee you'll drink first, you know.