Chapter 29: The Quiet Between Heartbeats
Peace had a rhythm.
It was slower than chaos, gentler than war. It arrived in silent waves, in the way morning sunlight slanted across the hardwood floors of the penthouse nursery, or in the soft breathing of the twins as they napped after feeding. It showed itself in the absence of sirens, surveillance, and coded warnings. It was there now—in the quiet between heartbeats.
Ela sat cross-legged on the nursery floor, a blanket draped across her lap as Aayan gripped her finger, staring up at her with wide, unblinking eyes. Amira cooed softly beside him, curling her toes in her sleep.
Stuart stood nearby, leaning against the doorframe. A tablet rested in his hands, but he hadn’t touched it for ten minutes. He was watching them instead.
“I still don
