Natasha’s POV.The drive back home felt peaceful. The air was warm, the road quiet, and my thoughts lighter than they had been in weeks. My parents had been unusually kind during my stay, almost careful around me, and though their presence could be tiring, it was good to be somewhere that still held traces of my childhood. I thought of Sylvester constantly, missing him in the small moments—the mornings without him, and the evenings without his teasing remarks. I was eager to return, to fall back into our rhythm.But the moment I stepped through the front door, that calm disappeared. The house felt wrong. It wasn’t loud or chaotic, just cold, as if the air itself was holding its breath. I stood there for a moment, trying to understand it. The faint scent of wine hung in the living room. The curtains were drawn too tightly, and even the light spilling through seemed dim.Then Carol appeared from the hallway, smiling too quickly. Her expression was bright, her tone cheerful, her moveme
Last Updated : 2025-10-28 Read more