Samuel raised an eyebrow, approaching them with mild sarcasm, "You two are up early."

Alexander barely glanced at him, focusing on making coffee.

Michael, however, stiffened, his unease evident. Seeing Samuel emerge from Eliana's room only deepened the discomfort, but he held his tongue. He had no right to object to anything.

He kept telling himself that that persistence would win Eliana over. If not today, then someday. He just had to keep trying and ...