Morning arrived quietly, as if the house itself had learned caution.
Lena woke before her alarm, the pale light filtering through the curtains casting long shadows across the room. For a moment, she lay still, listening. No footsteps. No distant voices. Just the soft hum of the estate breathing around her.
Her thoughts drifted back to the night before—to Alex’s words, to the way his presence had lingered long after he’d left. Once you’re inside it… leaving isn’t simple.
She pushed the thought aside and got up.
Routine, she reminded herself. Routine was safety.
By the time she reached the kitchen, Noah was already there, sitting at the table with his legs tucked beneath him, flipping slowly through a book. He looked up when he saw her and gave a small nod—his version of a greeting.
“G
