Riley POV
The mansion remained too quiet long after the children left.
At first, I tried to enjoy it. I took a long shower without Sophie knocking on the door to ask where her yellow ribbon was. I watched an entire episode of a series without the twins arguing over the remote. I even ordered dinner without having to consider three different opinions about vegetables.
Still, none of it felt relaxing.
The silence did not feel peaceful. It felt empty.
Every time I passed the family room, I expected to see Leo and Max building something they had been warned not to build. Whenever I heard a sound upstairs, I thought Sophie had woken from a bad dream and was calling for me. Then I remembered all three children were at Elena’s apartment, trying to spend time with the mother they barely knew
