Morning came with an eerie sense of calm, as though the world itself was holding its breath. The sunlight streamed through the large windows of the villa, painting the room in soft gold hues. Adrian was already awake, standing by the window, his back to Alina.
She stirred, blinking at the sight of him. There was something about his posture—rigid, contemplative—that unsettled her.
“Adrian?” she called softly, sitting up in bed.
He turned slowly, his expression carefully neutral. “Good morning, love. Did you sleep well?”
Alina frowned, swinging her legs over the side of the bed. “I did. But you didn’t, did you?”
He gave her a small smile, walking over to her and cupping her face. “Don’t worry about me. I’m just thinking about how to deal with Victoria’s next move.”
Alina reached up, co
