The walk to Edward's side of the property felt longer than it ever had before.
Maybe it was the silence—thicker now, more final. The trees lining the path swayed gently in the late afternoon breeze, but even the wind felt muted, as if the whole estate had taken a breath and didn't know what to do with it.
I hadn't texted. I hadn't called ahead. But I needed to see him.
We had made a deal once, back when this entire thing was just a strange, desperate arrangement. It felt like a lifetime ago now. Back then, I'd thought I was stepping into a performance. I hadn't expected to find people I'd grow to care about. I hadn't expected Edward to treat me like family. I hadn't expected him.
I raised my hand to knock, hesitating for half a second before letting my knuckles fall softly against the door.
It opened a few moments later.
Edward stood in the doorway, eyes sweeping over me once—just once—and I knew he understood.
He didn't ask. Didn't need to.
