The morning had been peaceful — almost suspiciously so.
Sunlight poured through the kitchen windows, warming the space with golden light. Isabelle sat at the table, her fingers curled around a mug of coffee that was still blissfully hot, the soft scratch of crayons filling the quiet as the twins colored with unusual focus.
It was one of those rare, perfect moments — the kind she wished she could freeze and live in forever. No chaos. No tension. Just warmth and calm and the simple joy of being with her children.
She should have known it wouldn’t last.
The doorbell shattered the peace, its sharp chime cutting through the stillness like a warning.
“Mommy! Someone’s here!” Amelia chirped, already sliding off her chair, her curls bouncing as she made a beeline for the hallway.
“I’ll get i
