Later that evening, when Starry returned home, the faint clinking of dishes echoed from the dining room. Chloe had taken it upon herself to set the table for dinner. The soft glow of the chandelier bathed the room in warm lights. She stood by the table, her expression collected, though her heart raced slightly as she anticipated the inevitable conversation.
Starry entered, his tie slightly loosened, his eyes narrowed with the fatigue of the day. He paused when he saw her, his gaze flickering with something unreadable. “Dinner?” he asked, his voice cold but laced with curiosity.
“Yes. I thought it might be nice,” Chloe replied, forcing a smile. She gestured toward the seat across from her. “Come sit.”
He hesitated for a moment before striding over and taking his place. The silence betw
