For a moment, Sienna genuinely thought she had misheard him.

The words didn’t make sense at all.

Why was he dismissed through a message?

However, the look on Riley’s face told her everything.

This wasn’t a misunderstanding. And it definitely wasn’t a joke.

Silent linger around them—

Ava was the first to react.

"What the heck?!" she burst out, her composure finally breaking as her palm struck the table sharply. "How can they fire you like that? Did you even do anything wrong?"

She’s not screaming, but her voice is loud and sharp enough to attract several curious glances from nearby tables.

Mia immediately waved awkwardly toward the strangers, as if apologizing for displaying a scene of their emotional instability.

"Nothing to see here," Mia muttered, but still pretty loud. "Sorry if we interrupt your meals. Enjoy your dinner, guys..."

Under different circumstances, Riley would probably have laughed at that. Instead, he blinked slowly, as if forcing himself back into the present.

Then, unexpectedly, he smiled. Not the bright, carefree smile he usually shows them. But something close enough that makes anyone who sees it concerned.

Nevertheless, that unusual smile is enough to ease the tension slightly and to stop Ava from flipping the entire table.

He slid his phone into his pocket and leaned back in his chair.

"Alright," he said lightly, waving a hand dismissively. "Let’s eat first."

And to everyone’s disbelief, he calmly stabbed another piece of sweet and juicy melon with his fork. And then another piece. Again. And again. He ate four pieces of melon so calmly and looked so happy, as if he had not just announced his unemployment and the loss of an income to support himself.

Sienna stared at him in disbelief.

Mia looked equally horrified.

Ava looked seconds away from storming the hotel and questioning the HR Director.

"No need to panic over small things," Riley finally spoke after swallowing his last melon. "I’ll deal with it tomorrow," he continued very casually and almost nonchalantly.

’Small things?’ The phrase echoed strangely in Sienna’s mind.

Losing a job was not a small thing, especially not like this, after everything that had happened today.

But she understood what he was trying to do. He was trying to keep the atmosphere from being completely dark.

And because of that, none of them pushed further.

Mia forced a smile, though it looked fragile now.

Ava exhaled slowly, still visibly upset but choosing, for Riley’s sake, not to argue.

And for Sienna, that heaviness settled deep in her chest. While she had spent the evening being congratulated on her promotion, her best friend, Riley, had just lost his job.

The contrast felt cruel and unfair. Every congratulation she had received suddenly felt heavier than before.

Even her own happiness now carried guilt beneath it.

Still, she laughed softly when Mia and Riley started bickering again over who ate the last calamari.

Because what else could she do?

Tonight was supposed to be a celebration.

But somehow, by the end of it, none of them truly felt like celebrating anymore.

...

The restaurant had nearly emptied by the time they finally stood from the table.

Most of the lights had already been dimmed. The earlier noise had faded almost entirely, replaced by the distant murmur of the staff cleaning up for the night. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

When they stepped outside, the night air greeted them immediately.

They walked together toward Riley’s car, their footsteps slower than usual, as if everyone unconsciously wanted to delay going home

Or perhaps no one quite knew how to leave things tonight.

Then suddenly, Riley stopped walking. He turned around to face Sienna and Ava, stuffing one hand casually into his pocket while the other held his car keys loosely between his fingers.

"You both don’t need to escort us like worried parents. It’s late. Go home and rest already." He said.

"Hmm, we won’t walk you," Sienna said automatically, though her tone carried quiet concern. "But both of you have to text me when you get home."

"Yes, as always," Riley replied obediently.

"Drive safely," Ava added beside her.

Riley smiled again.

It was the same calm smile he had been wearing ever since receiving that message earlier.

"Understood, Mommy Sienna and Mommy Ava," he said solemnly.

Mia burst into laughter immediately. "Wow. Two mothers. Riley, your life must be exhausting."

"It is," he replied. "I’m constantly supervised."

That finally earned a real laugh from everyone. Warm enough to briefly push away the heaviness hanging over the night.

But only briefly.

Because once Riley and Mia climbed into the car and the engine started, the atmosphere shifted again.

Sienna and Ava stood side by side on the sidewalk, quietly watching the headlights cut through the darkness ahead of them.

Neither of them spoke.

They simply remained there until the car disappeared completely from view.

Ava exhaled slowly before turning toward the apartment building entrance. Sienna followed beside her, both of them walking at an unhurried pace.

"Why did he suddenly get fired?" Ava asked quietly, "Did he offend someone?"

Sienna glanced toward Ava before shaking her head slowly. "I don’t know," she admitted honestly. "Nothing unusual happened in our department these past few days."

"That’s what makes this strange."

"Mhm," Sienna murmured. "I thought so too. Something is off."

Silence fell between them again as they walked toward the building.

Sienna kept her gaze forward, but her thoughts were nowhere near calm.

Everything that had happened today replayed endlessly in her mind. From Benjamin Foster, her sudden promotion, the threatening messages from Angie, and Riley’s sudden dismissal.

The uncomfortable feeling in her chest tightened all over again. It felt as if the entire day had slowly wrapped invisible pressure around her until she could barely breathe.

Not long afterward, they finally reached the entrance of their apartment building.

But just as Sienna stepped toward the doors, Ava suddenly stopped walking.

Sienna took several more steps before realizing Ava was no longer beside her.

Confused, she turned back.

"What’s wrong, Ava?"