Jessica sipped her latte and tightened her fingers around the warm mug, her eyes fixed on Jordan. They sat across from each other in a quiet, wood-toned cafe tucked in a corner near Crescent Ridge.
The low hum of conversations blended with the gentle clatter of cups and the occasional hiss from the barista's coffee machine. The place smelled like roasted beans and cinnamon—a comforting scent, but it did little to ease her thoughts.
"How are you able to stay this calm, Jordan?" Her voice came out sharper than she intended.
She set her mug down a bit harder than necessary. Her gaze lingered on him, studying his posture, his face. He looked far too relaxed given everything that had happened—Lucien, Nova Tech, the danger surrounding Ethan, and now her sudden plunge into this world of secrets and chaos.
Jordan leaned back in his seat, then chuckled.
"Calm? You clearly don't know me well enough," he said with a grin. "I'm trembling inside."
