The house was silent. Yet, it was the kind of silence Nayla had chosen by design. It wasn’t born of loneliness, but of necessity.
Adrian had returned to his own home after their dinner together, having stayed just long enough to ensure she was alright. Carina, despite keeping her company for a while, had decided to head back to her apartment to handle some lingering work. Even the legal entanglement with Hartono was finally finished. There was nothing left for her to sign. No more documents to read, no more clauses to debate.
Tonight, Nayla only needed stillness.
She removed her shoes slowly. She set her bag on the small table near the door and rubbed the persistent ache at the nape of her neck. Her mind still felt foreign, occupied by the stark fact that she was now, officially, a fre
