Riley POV
The mansion felt wrong without the children.
Too quiet. Too clean. Too still.
Victoria arrived shortly after breakfast and announced that she was taking all three children out for the day. Sophie became excited immediately because Victoria had promised lunch, shopping, and a visit to a new indoor play center. The twins pretended not to care about the play center until Victoria mentioned that it had racing games and a climbing wall.
Within twenty minutes, they were ready.
Leo carried a backpack filled with snacks he did not need. Max had somehow packed two toy cars and a football. Sophie wore a bright yellow dress and held Victoria’s hand while giving me a long list of instructions for the day.
“Do not move my dolls,” she said.
“I will try to control myself.”
“And do not l
