Viya's POV
This year's Moon Goddess Festival was the most relaxed holiday I'd had in years. Making it through the entire celebration without a single emotional wound felt like a rare achievement.
For two or three straight days, there hadn't been a peep from across the hall—no drama, no confrontations, just blessed silence.
Sophia and I had been holed up in my apartment, each absorbed in our own work. The coffee table was covered with papers full of my research notes, while her legal files were spread across the desk. We'd fallen into a comfortable rhythm of productive silence.
That afternoon, I'd just accepted a mug of coffee from Sophia when my phone vibrated against the table. I picked it up and glanced at the screen before answering.
"Hey, Darren. What's up?" I asked, r
