Ryan followed Emma inside, his heart racing with anticipation and guilt.
As she poured coffee, he noticed family photos on the mantle -
a happy family portrait, then a gap... and only Emma in later pictures.
His mind connected the dots:
the lawsuit, her testimony against her parents...
Emma handed him a cup, her eyes sparkling with affection:
"I'm so glad tonight ended like this."
Ryan took a sip, choosing his words carefully:
"Emma, can I ask you something... about your family?"
Her smile faltered, and she set her cup down slowly:
"What about them?"
Ryan's heart sank - he had to tread carefully:
"I saw some old news articles... about a lawsuit.
You were involved, and I want to understand what happened."
Emma's eyes dropped, and she whispered:
"How did you find out..."
The room fell silent except for the ticking clock -
Ryan knew his next words would change everything:
"Do you want to tell me what really happened, Emma?"