CHAPTER 174: A BIG STEP

MARIE "Are you all right?" I asked Crystal, taking in her slow movements as I entered the living room after my morning run. "Yeah, I'm just… I didn't really sleep well." My brows furrowed as I kicked off my shoes and stood before her. "Are you feeling sick? I can drive you to the hospital." She waved my concerns away as she opened the fridge, pulled out a water bottle, and slammed the door shut. "I'm fine," she said, twisting the bottle cap as she fixed me with a look filled with questions. I shifted nervously under her intense scrutiny. "How's Amelia?" "Already taking a morning nap," she answered, her gaze still unwavering. "Why are you looking at me like that?" I asked, my eyes narrowed in confusion. She shrugged. "Like what?" "Like I did something wrong." She brought the bottle to her lips and tilted her head back to guzzle it. "Did you do something wrong?" she asked gently after a few seconds. "I don't know. You tell me." "Why didn't you tell me you've been in contact