Evelyn's POV

The house was unusually still that morning when Evelyn woke up. Not the usual kind of silence that came with calm, but the deep, almost thoughtful quiet that seemed to hold its breath between moments. The kind that made Evelyn notice the soft tick of the clock on the wall, the gentle hum of the refrigerator downstairs, the faint rustle of leaves brushing against the windows.

Damian had left early. She had barely woken when she heard his voice at the door, murmuring something to ...