The morning was filled with a rare, infectious energy. Isabelle stood in the hallway, watching as Amelia and Elliott zipped back and forth, gathering their things for the day. Their chatter was a constant hum of excitement, their laughter breaking through the usual tension that hung in the house like an unspoken truth.
Sebastian leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, taking it all in. His expression was unreadable, but Isabelle could tell he was feeling something—something beyond his usual guarded indifference.
“They’re excited,” she said, breaking the silence between them.
His gaze flicked to hers, and for once, there was no sharp edge to it. “Yeah.” A pause. “I should’ve done this sooner.”
She could’ve pointed out that she had told him this countless times, but she let it go. In
