Odessa’s POV
The slam of Stefan's door echoed through the house like a loud bang, leaving an unsettling quiet behind.
The rest of the dinner was filled with tension and discomfort. Alice, having had her fill of drama, excused herself with a casual, "Later, Dad," barely glancing in my direction. Cassius spent the next ten minutes rubbing his temples, the lines on his face deepening with every breath.
“Well, that was quite an eventful first day back for him," he said finally, sounding exhausted.
“That's one way to put it,” I replied softly, stacking the plates. The delicate dishes felt fragile like my own emotions, so I focused on the simple task at hand, the sound of clinking china, the only noise filling the space between us.
He followed me into the kitchen, watching as I loaded the
