C42 ICE FORTY-TWO: I'M THE ONE.

MADISON'S POV:

His eyes dimmed, shadows crossing his face like clouds veiling the sun. Was it judgment? For a heartbeat I thought so, shame curling tight in my stomach—but then his voice softened.

“What about your family?”

“I don’t have one. At least not that I know of. I grew up in an orphanage.”

His expression shifted, not disgust but regret. “I’m sorry. I never knew that