Author's POV
Aria slept soundly through the night, only waking when her alarm pierced the morning silence. She opened her eyes to a room still shrouded in darkness. Aiden's side of the bed was already empty—he always rose early.
Knowing they needed to visit Thomas Carter at the hospital, she didn't linger under the warm covers. She quickly got dressed and headed to the bathroom to freshen up. Just as she finished her skincare routine, Aiden appeared in the doorway with a steaming cup of water.
He raised an eyebrow when he saw her already seated at the vanity. "Up so early?"
"It's already seven-thirty," she replied, glancing toward the window. The sky remained overcast, rain still falling steadily. "Looks like another gloomy day."
"Still raining," Aiden agreed, setting the
