Anna's POV:

The villa settles around itself the way it always settles when the guests have gone — small sounds returning, the creak of the house breathing, the specific quiet that belongs to a building after it has been full of people and is now only ours again.

Karl and Mia have cleared without being asked. The candles are out. The kitchen is already clean.

Alexander puts his hands on my shoulders from behind and turns me gently in the ...