Worry
When Sidney returned to Ella's side, her eyes lit up with anticipation. He had spent so much time with Serena, and she couldn't help but wonder if he felt good about it. And what about Serena? Was she upset with Ella for bringing her here? Ella still didn't fully grasp what connection Sidney had to Serena, but according to her father, once Serena saw Sidney, Aiden would no longer have the time or space to meddle in his affairs. This, in turn, would leave him to focus on other things. Ella wasn't always sure of her father's schemes. He could be wrong, misguided even, but surely Aiden didn't need to be so harsh with him!
She'd expected Sidney to share something—maybe a smile, or a hint of the outcome—but instead, he barely spared her a glance. His expression was cold, distant. "You should head back. It's getting late," he said flatly, his tone sharp enough to slice through the air between them.