LILY
Morning sunlight filtered through the blinds, soft and golden, painting the kitchen in gentle hues. I woke to an empty bed, Ace’s side undisturbed, his warmth gone, and the faint echo of last night’s closeness still pressing against me. For a moment, I lay there, listening for him, but all I heard was the quiet hum of the house.
Curious, I slipped out of the room, careful not to disturb Alice, who slept on. The kitchen was alive with activity—Margaret moving with quiet precision, the smell of fresh coffee curling in the air.
“Good morning, Miss Lily,” Margaret said, glancing up with a faint smile. “Coffee’s brewing.”
“Good morning,” I replied softly, my voice just above a whisper. I moved to the counter, filling a cup and letting the steam curl around my fingers. Something about t
