Helen sat beside Ava on the couch, then gently reached out and held her hand. Tilting her head with a pout, she looked up into Ava's cold eyes.
"Sister, why are you ignoring me again?" she asked in a soft, wounded tone.
Ava's brows furrowed slightly as she glanced down at Helen's small hand holding hers. She looked ready to pull away—habitually avoiding touch—but paused when she saw Helen's innocent pout.
"…I'm not ignoring you, Helen," Ava replied after a beat. "The meeting was cancelled, so I came here when I heard Carter had returned."
Helen's pout eased into a small smile, and she leaned closer. Ava's fingers twitched slightly but she didn't move her hand away.
Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed from the hallway, interrupting the moment. All three of them turned toward the door.
