Ann stood in the kitchen, gently rocking the baby in her arms while humming a soft lullaby. The baby was calm, his tiny eyes slowly closing. It had become part of her daily routine, and though it was exhausting sometimes, she loved it.
Victor watched her from the hallway. He had come downstairs looking for coffee but paused when he saw Ann with the baby. Her face looked peaceful. She was wearing simple clothes, not a trace of makeup, her hair pulled into a loose ponytail. She wasn’t pretending to be perfect. And somehow, that made her even harder to understand. Victor had spent his whole life dealing with people who wore masks especially women who only smiled when they wanted something. But Ann didn’t seem like that. She was quiet, kind, and never tried to impress him. She didn’t beg for
