The morning light in London was grayer than the light on the coast, filtered through layers of urban haze and the tall buildings that lined our street. I woke up to the sound of the shower running, a domestic rhythm that signaled the start of a new week. The boat trip was over, the unpacking was done, and the reality of our ordinary lives had resumed. But today was different for Marcus. It was his first day officially stepping back from the daily operations of Valerio International. He was moving to an advisory role, a shift he had talked about for months but now had to actually inhabit.
I got out of bed and pulled on my robe. The house was quiet, Eleanor still asleep upstairs. I went down to the kitchen and started the coffee machine. The smell of brewing beans filled the room, familiar
