The room fell silent as Chris stepped forward, his gaze locked on Claire's closed bedroom door.
Everyone—Alex, Emma, Margaret, Ivy, and Jake—moved aside, giving him space. Chris took a deep breath, steadying his nerves.
He could feel the weight of everyone's hopes pressing down on him. They all wanted Claire to come out, but more than anything, he needed her to come out. Not because he was curious about what truly happened but because he wanted to understand her.
Clearing his throat, he spoke with a voice filled with quiet determination and his undying love. "Baby, I'm here for you. Don't you want to see the man that makes you smile? You need to know I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what's going on."
There was no response from behind the door. Claire was trying as much as she could not to break into a sob at Chris's words.