Aiden entered the house quietly, his car keys jingling faintly as he pushed the door shut behind him. The familiar silence wrapped around him, but tonight it felt strange, almost too quiet.

He loosened his tie, half-expecting to hear Alina’s voice or at least the sound of her footsteps in the hallway, but nothing came.

He checked their shared bedroom first. The bed was neatly arranged, untouched. His eyes swept the space quickly to see her shoes weren’t there, neither was the bag ...