Samantha’s POVI slipped back into the kitchen quietly, letting the sounds in the house wash over me; the faint clink of utensils, Olivia’s laughter, Ryan’s soft chuckles. The warmth of the space was contrasting, and in fact, very sharply, with the cold thread of unease threading through my thoughts. Every movement, every glance, reminded me that someone was orchestrating something, watching, waiting.Olivia, oblivious to the tension I carried, ran across the room, trailing her small fingers along the edge of the counter, giggling at some imaginary drama only she understood. Ryan bent slightly, catching her by the waist, his laughter soft and low.I paused, watching the way his eyes softened when they met hers, the gentle tilt of his head, the slight curve of his lips that seemed reserved for her alone. It was disarming. Even the light in his eyes, the kind reserved for moments untouched by duty or threat, carried a weight that made my chest tighten.“You almost toppled the whole stac
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