Elena’s POV
Morning came again with an empty bed and no Victor beside me. I wasn’t surprised anymore—just hollow, numb, as if someone had carved out a space inside me and walked away.
Quietly, I padded down the hallway to check on Darren. There he was, sprawled out on his bed in those ridiculous dinosaur pajamas, mouth slack, completely out cold. The kid could sleep through an earthquake. I left instructions with Rosa, the housekeeper Victor had hired to watch over him while he was asleep, then made my way to the kitchen.
Cooking has always been my therapy. Even with a full staff ready to do everything for me, I needed to keep my hands busy, needed to remind myself I still had some purpose. So, I set about making a proper breakfast—fluffy pancakes, fresh fruit, crispy bacon—the warm sce
