When Katherine arrived back at her apartment from the café, the sun was beginning to set, casting soft amber hues through the windows. Her body was tired, but her heart had carried a quiet buzz of excitement all day—something about Kingsley’s words that morning lingered with her like a promise she couldn’t stop thinking about.

As she unlocked her door and stepped inside, she immediately noticed something different. The space was quiet—too quiet. No Kingsley in sight.

But her eyes ...