The morning sunlight kissed the garden in soft hues of gold, but Jessica felt none of its warmth. She sat stiffly on the edge of the blanket, her gaze fixed on Alvaro as he babbled happily to himself. His tiny hands reached for the soft toy blocks scattered in front of him, and every giggle that bubbled from his lips should have brought her comfort. But Jessica's thoughts were far away, tangled in the storm of emotions that had taken root the night before.
She traced the outline of one of Alvaro's toys absently, her mind circling around Armando’s words. **“My priority is keeping you and Alvaro safe.”** They echoed, relentless, gnawing at her resolve. She wanted to hate him. She did hate him—or so she told herself. Yet, in moments like last night, when his guard slipped, he became almost
