The days after that morning started to feel a little less heavy. Not perfect. Not even close to normal. But something had shifted between us. Damien was trying harder to give me space during the day. He didn’t hover as much. He let me walk around the penthouse on my own, only checking in every couple of hours instead of watching my every move. It was small, but it mattered.
That afternoon, I was sitting by the windows in the living room, staring out at the city. The guard stayed far back near the hallway, quiet like always. I had a book in my lap, but I wasn’t really reading it. My mind kept drifting.
Damien came in from his office, looking tired but calmer than usual. He didn’t sit right next to me. He took the chair across from me instead, giving me room.
“How’s the book?” he asked so
