CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE – KAYLA SAVES THE BIRTHDAY

"Hey, stranger!" Skylar chirped, gesturing for Kayla to have a seat. "How'd that fancy Storm family banquet go? Did you manage to avoid drowning in caviar and champagne?" Kayla chuckled. "Actually, it went quite well. Everything ran smoothly, and Mr. Storm seemed reasonably satisfied." Skylar raised an eyebrow, skepticism dancing in her eyes. "Reasonably satisfied? Sounds like a vast improvement from his usual 'barely tolerable' standard." Kayla smiled. "Something like that." But seeing the concern in Skylar's gaze, she hesitated. Should she confide in her friend about the entire Raya situation? It felt strange to expose such a vulnerable part of Lance's past. Sensing Kayla's hesitation, Skylar leaned back in her chair. "Spill the beans, Kayla," she urged gently. "Something's brewing behind that tight smile." Taking a deep breath, Kayla recounted the entire evening, from the surprise encounter with Raya to the tense car ride home and Lance's subsequent withdrawal. As she spoke, th