Morning at the Volkov estate came with a quiet kind of elegance.Sunlight spilled through tall windows, catching on polished surfaces and soft linen, making everything look calmer than it really was.But beneath that calm there was tension.Sera sat at the breakfast table, her coffee untouched, fingers lightly wrapped around the cup as if she needed the warmth more than the taste.Nikolai was at the far end, already halfway through his meal, distracted by something on his tablet as he mumbled to himself about “signal optimization.”Adrik sat across from her. Watching. Not in the obvious way. But in the way of someone who had learned her over years.He noticed the small things.The way her shoulders held just a little too tight.The way her eyes drifted, not to him, not to the table but somewhere else entirely.Back there.Back to him.“So,” Adrik said finally, breaking the silence.“You’re extending your stay.”It wasn’t a question.Sera nodded.“Yes.”“How long?”“A few more days.”“
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