CHAPTER 52: Shifting Conversations

　　Hannah POV

　　After Joseph left, I took a moment to gather my thoughts. The conversation I had overheard still lingered in my mind, and I couldn't shake the concern I felt for both him and Aubrey. I had never seen Joseph so vulnerable, and Aubrey’s detached attitude was unsettling.

　　Deciding I couldn’t let it go without saying something, I thought to talk about it with Aubrey. She was sitting on the bed, she was watching some video over her phone, but she seemed lost in some thought. Her usual confident demeanor was replaced by a faraway look that made me wonder what was going on in her head.

　　“Aubrey,” I called out softly as I approached the bed. I saw beside her, she glanced up, her expression shifting quickly into one of casual indifference. “Hey, Hannah. What’s up?”

　　I hesitated, unsure of how to bring up the subject without pushing too hard. “I, uh, wanted to ask about Joseph,” I began carefully. “I didn’t know you two were… involved.”