Ethan actually goes into the kitchen.From the living room, Claire hears the clatter of pans and her mother's boisterous laughter. At first, her mother tries to shoo him out, but Ethan says something low and charming, and soon her mother is laughing so hard the windows rattle.Claire has always hated her mother's loud voice. But Ethan? He stays in there, patient and smiling, playing the perfect son-in-law.Fine, Claire thinks, throwing herself onto the sofa. If he wants to work, let him work.She scrolls through her phone, the familiar sounds of her childhood home lulling her into a daze. Before she knows it, her eyelids grow heavy, and she drifts off.In her dream, she is floating. Strong arms lift her up, carrying her upstairs. The scent is familiar—woodsmoke and expensive cologne.She is placed gently onto a bed.Ethan stands by the bed, watching Claire sleep.This is Claire's room. It is the first time he has ever been inside. For the past two years, he treated visits here like bu
Last Updated : 2026-02-26 Read more