Isabel’s POV
I stride down the stairs, the sharp click of my heels echoing through the quiet house. The morning light streams through the wide windows, casting long shadows across the marble floors. Aurora has already left with the kids for school, and now it’s my turn to head to the office.
As I reach the final step, I notice my mother standing near the foyer, her back turned to me. There’s a stiffness in her posture, her shoulders tensed as she grips her phone tightly to her ear. Her voice is hushed but urgent, words spilling out in quick, clipped sentences.
I slow my steps, watching her carefully. Something is wrong.
She doesn’t notice me at first, too caught up in whatever conversation she’s having. Her fingers press against her temple as she listens, then she exhales sharply, like
