POV: Darius
The morning was quiet. Too quiet. I had been awake since before the sun rose, as always.
Sleep never came easy to me, not with everything I had to carry on my shoulders. Now, I sat in the dining room, coffee in one hand and my tablet in the other, scrolling through reports from Caleb’s team. The bitterness of the dark roast helped me focus.
Footsteps drew my attention, but I didn’t look up. I didn’t need to. I knew that light sound by now—it was Adriana.
“Good morning,” her soft voice broke the silence.
I kept my eyes on the tablet, the numbers and names still demanding my attention. “Good morning,” I replied flatly.
From the corner of my vision, I saw her take a seat at the table. Grace came in quickly, setting down a plate for her. Adriana smiled at the older woman in
