“I just… never imagined I’d see this.”
Aldrich looked down at the cutting board. “See what?”
“You,” she whispered, “doing something… ordinary.”
He didn’t respond.
Not when her voice carried something fragile. Something hopeful.
Cale and Dren, sensing the shift in atmosphere, slowly stepped back, as if giving them space they didn’t dare speak about.
Hermelyn kicked her legs lightly beneath the counter.
“Thanks for doing this,” she said, even quieter now. “I know you didn’t have to.”
Aldrich glanced at her. Her smile wasn’t bright this time. It was real. And for that small moment, he felt something warm spread through him.. something quiet.
"It’s just lunch,” he murmured.
“No,” she whispered, holding his gaze. “It’s you.”
His hand stilled on the knife.
Hermelyn quickly looked awa
