The morning sun broke through the estate windows, flooding the halls with golden light. But within Theo and Rina’s chamber, warmth was absent.
Rina sat at her vanity, her hands moving idly through her hair. She did not look up when Theo entered, though he lingered by the doorway longer than he should have. The bond between them still thrummed, heavy with unspoken tension, but she masked herself behind silence.
“Breakfast is ready,” he said finally, his voice clipped.
She gave the faintest nod without turning, and that was all.
Theo’s jaw tightened. A thousand words rose in his chest—apologies he had rehearsed, confessions of guilt, the longing ache he felt for her closeness—but pride weighed down his tongue. Perhaps, if only she had told Samantha about them yesterday night, maybe he co
