Callista woke up the next morning with that tight knot pressing against her ribs.

Sebastian didn't come back—not yesterday, not even tonight. She got no messages, missed calls, or "be home soon" texts—just… total silence.

It was a little past seven, and the sky outside was still a sleepy gray. The streets below looked like they hadn’t fully woken up either. The city felt quieter than usual, and maybe that was what made her chest feel so heavy.

She rolled over in bed and checked her ...