“Don't overthink it," she said. “It wasn't your fault. You were just trying to protect your sister.”

Her words seemed to hit their mark.

Dilan's grip on the steering wheel loosened, and his tense shoulders relaxed slightly.

It was a strange sense of relief, like hearing a kind word from a parent after making a mistake.

But Rosalynn wasn't done.

“Still,” she added, her tone firmer now, “as Kyson said, brute strength isn't everything. Protecting Rainie is important, but so is using your head. Charging in without a plan won't help anyone-it could even make things worse."

There she went again, calling him a simple-minded brute.

Dilan felt a tightness in his chest as irritation clouded his initial gratitude.

He muttered under his breath, "So, I'm just a brute now?"

Rosalynn's lips twitched into a teasing smile. “Mr. Brute, you look a little sulky. Did I hurt your feelings?"

He didn‘t answer, focusing instead on the road ahead.

Amused by his silence, she chuckled softly. “Really upset?"

After a pause, Dilan sighed. “No. You're right. I'll be more careful next time."

Rosalynn raised an eyebrow, surprised by his admission.

Did he really take her words to heart? Was that a hint of humility she detected?

“Good,” she said, her tone approving.

A small smile played on her lips as she leaned back against the seat, closing her eyes.

“I'll take a nap. Wake me when we're home."

That was the thing with being pregnant.

She needed her nap to keep her energy up.

The steady rhythm of the road and the warmth of the sun streaming through the windows created the perfect environment for Rosalynn to drift into a deep sleep.

She yawned softly, adjusted her position, and within moments, she was enveloped in peaceful slumber.

The car was silent, the sunlight casting a warm glow on her face and highlighting the peaceful serenity of her sleeping face.

Dilan drove in silence. As he stopped at a red light, his gaze wandered toward Rosalynn.