*Aria*
I stand in the kitchen, the smell of fresh coffee mingling with the faint aroma of pancakes sizzling on the stove. Through the window, I can see Ryder talking to the new security team he’s hired. The men are imposing, clad in dark uniforms, their serious expressions making me uneasy. I can’t shake the feeling that they’re turning our lives upside down, Ryder’s more than anyones, and the weight of it all settles heavily on my shoulders.
The kids are in the gaming room, Riley showing Rayne one of his new games, I am happy to see them do something together. I watch Ryder through the glass, his confident posture and easy smile contrasting sharply with the rigid figures standing around him. My heart aches at the thought of how far we’ve come, but I can’t help but feel we’re heading int
