Time moved in a strange, gentle way after that—neither rushing nor dragging, but settling into something steady and almost comforting. Days blended into each other, and before Marian realized it, she and Daniel had fallen into a rhythm that felt natural, earned, and carefully rebuilt.
Every morning followed the same pattern.
Daniel would leave early, coffee in hand, and drive to Elise’s office to pick up Isabella. The routine was precise, almost deliberate. He arrived on time, always parked in plain view, always kept the exchange brief and civil. A few words—about Isabella’s schedule, a reminder about drop-off time—and nothing more. No lingering. No private conversations. No room for misunderstandings.
In the afternoons, after Elise finished work, Daniel would return Isabella the same w
