"Are you crazy?" I snapped.

"Oh, honey, it's called raising awareness," Chloe replied, her eyes fixed on her phone screen. "God forbid I use my platform for something good. If Bridal Luxe sees this, they'll be covering my wedding for sure."

Roman finally looked up, his jaw flexing in a sharp line. "Turn that thing off. Now."

Chloe tilted the phone toward her face, forcing a sob for the camera. "This is a family tragedy. And I—"

The phone was snatched from her hand mid-sentence.

Alyssa stood there, her eyes red-rimmed, her hair a mess. "You want tragedy?" she hissed. "You want attention, Chloe?"

"Alyssa—"

The sharp crack of a slap silenced the entire room. Chloe’s head snapped to the side. The silence that followed was thick and ringing. Alyssa hurled the phone against the wall, where it shattered into pieces, mirrored by the loss of her own restraint.

"Get. Out."

"You're overreacting—"

"OUT!" Alyssa’s voice was a raw scream.

Roman stood up. Lizzie jumped. Even Dean moved as Chloe stormed out, cradling her cheek with eyes glistening—not from pain, but from pure rage. Dean moved to pick up the broken pieces of the phone. "That was too far, Alyssa. She loves Emily in her own way."

"Posting trauma online for views isn't love," Alyssa snapped back. "It’s a PR stunt." She brushed a tear away, her gaze locked in a heated contest with him.

The rest of us stood there, awkwardly scattered. I crossed my arms, the hospital air feeling icy against my skin. Roman was pacing now, muttering under his breath.

"You okay?" I asked him quietly.

He stopped and looked at me, his eyes dark with intensity. "She could've died, Savannah."

"I know."

"No, you don't know. No one was watching her. She’s just a child." His voice cracked slightly, and he turned away, raking his hand through his wet hair.

Dean stepped forward. "She's fine now. That's all that matters."

Roman’s head snapped toward him. "You think this is fine? What if it were your child?"

Dean’s eyes narrowed. "Don't talk to me like that."

"Oh, I'll talk however I need to. You were so focused on Savannah that you weren't even paying attention to the pool."

My heart stopped.

"What are you saying, man? I wasn't even there at that moment," Dean retorted.

"Roman," I said sharply, trying to intervene.

Dean took a threatening step toward him, but Lizzie jumped between them. "Enough! This is not the time for this. A little girl almost died!"

Dean punched the wall in frustration before storming off. Roman exhaled sharply and disappeared down the hallway. I hesitated, then followed him. I found him near the vending machines, his head bowed.

"You didn't have to say that to Dean," I said softly.

"I’m angry, Savannah," he growled, turning to face me. "I told you this was a bad idea. Pretending we're... this." He gestured between us.

"We're not pretending to be friends," I said. "Please don't be mad. I hate it when we fight."

He moved closer, his gaze pinning me to the spot. "You kissed me back earlier."

"Because the moment was overwhelming," I countered.

"I'm losing my mind here," he whispered, his voice hoarse. "And you’re acting like none of this tension between us matters."

"Let's not talk about that now." I cupped his cheek. "You're frustrated and stressed. I get it. You need a way to unwind, to clear your head."

His eyes darkened. "What are you suggesting?"

"I'm saying you're wound up too tight," I whispered. "Maybe you need to take some time for yourself, find a distraction... someone who isn't involved in all this drama."

"I don't need a temporary distraction, Savannah," he said, stepping closer until he was crowding my space. "And we aren't talking about this while a child is in a hospital bed."

"I'm just trying to look out for you," I said, stepping back.

"I'm trying to protect you," he countered, his voice a low warning.

"From what?"

"Stop playing these games with Dean. Let's just get this wedding over with and go home."

"No," I argued. "You agreed to help me. Why are you acting like this now?"

His eyes were darker than I'd ever seen them. "You think I planned for things to get this complicated? I saw you today, and I—" He clenched his fists. "I shouldn't be thinking about you the way I am."

I swallowed hard, my heart racing.

"You're my best friend," he said, his voice dropping to a vulnerable whisper. "I shouldn't be wondering what it would be like to actually be with you."

My breath hitched. I looked away, my knees feeling weak. "Then don't wonder."

He stepped even closer, inches from me. "I can't help it."

"Roman," I hissed, glancing at the hallway doors. "Don't."

Before the tension could break, Lizzie appeared. "Savannah, they need you. They're asking for Emily's emergency contacts."

Roman stared at me for a heartbeat longer before looking away. I followed Lizzie, feeling the heat of his gaze on my back.

"That looked intense," Lizzie noted as we walked.

"He's just shaken up about Emily," I lied, my voice light. "He’s a softie at heart."

But guilt settled heavily in my chest. We were deceiving everyone, and the lines between the lie and the truth were blurring too fast.

Suddenly, Alyssa stumbled toward us, her phone clutched in trembling hands, tears streaming down her face.

"He's here," she whispered, her voice breaking. "Emily's father. He's downstairs."

I blinked, the tension with Roman momentarily forgotten. "What?"

"He said... he said he’s going to take her," Alyssa sobbed. "He’s claiming I’m unfit. He says he has proof."