“Aunt Norella, hurry up! I’m waiting for you!” Reaghan called eagerly, his voice filled with impatience.
Raiden cleared his throat, his voice cracking slightly, a flicker of panic flashing across his eyes.
“Norella’s just telling a story to the child, so…”
He trailed off as though scrambling for the right words.
Astrella remained composed, lifting her glass of water with a calm grace. “Alright, you all go ahead. Don’t keep the child waiting.” She turned and walked to her room, her steps steady, as if none of it truly affected her.
As she pushed the door, she realized it wouldn’t budge. Glancing down, her gaze met the firm grip of a large hand holding the handle.
Caught off guard, she found herself locked in a stare with Raiden’s deep brown eyes. There was a fleeting flash of surprise and unease there, but it quickly vanished.
“Astrella, don’t misunderstand,” he said quietly, his voice low.
Taking a deliberate step back, Astrella shook her head with calm detachment.
“Misunderstand what?”
The question made Raiden’s lips twitch, a visible struggle passing over his face. He remained silent, unable to offer a reply.
Beside them, Norella looked uncomfortable, shifting on her feet. “I’m sorry for disturbing you both. I’ll leave now.”
But before she could turn, both Astrella and Raiden spoke in unison, “You can’t leave!”
Raiden seemed even more surprised as he studied Astrella, his gaze probing and skeptical.
“You don’t have power at home. I can’t feel at ease,” he said, stepping past Astrella and taking Norella’s hand in his.
“Go keep the child company. I’ll sleep on the couch,” he added gently, his tone warm.
The ease between them was undeniable, striking in its familiarity.
Norella glanced up at Raiden, her fingers fiddling with the jacket draped over her shoulders. She pulled it slightly aside to reveal a sliver of pale skin.
“But… I’m just an outsider. I should be the one sleeping on the couch…”
Outsider? Wearing her husband’s jacket and telling stories to their child, how could she call herself an outsider? Norella’s words were a thinly veiled attempt to provoke.
Astrella felt a sharp pang of bitterness in her chest, but she quickly pushed it aside. What did it matter now? Her marriage to Raiden had always been out of gratitude and with her departure on the horizon, there was no room for such thoughts.
A faint smile tugged at her lips as she brushed past Raiden and opened the door. She stepped inside, locking it behind her.
What she didn’t know was that as the door clicked shut, Raiden’s breath quickened, his body tensing with something unspoken.
That night, sleep claimed her easily, peacefully and undisturbed.
The next morning, she awoke, pulled the earplugs from her ears and slipped into her workout clothes. She needed to keep her body in top shape if she was going to pass the test to become a pilot.
Aside from the six months she’d spent on maternity leave, she’d never let her fitness slide, often using the university track for her early morning runs.
At Arindale University, morning runs were a rite of passage for students and many of them recognized her immediately.
"Good morning, Miss Brooks!"
"Morning, Miss Brooks!"
Though she wasn’t a teacher, the students still greeted her with the same respect, mainly due to her connection with Raiden.
After covering a thousand meters, she wiped the sweat from her brow and made her way to the university cafeteria.
"Miss Brooks, grabbing breakfast for Mr. Lancaster again? The usual three?"
Raiden had a fondness for pancakes with maple syrup, while Reaghan preferred blueberry muffins and scrambled eggs. That had become their "usual three."
The tomato soup, a comforting blend of ripe tomatoes, fresh basil and a touch of cream, was simmered to perfection and served with a side of crusty bread.
On a winter morning, a steaming bowl of it was both soothing and filling.
Once she finished her breakfast, she glanced at the clock. It wasn’t even 8 a.m. yet. She decided to change and head to the library.
Living on campus made everything easier—reading, eating and everything in between. She appreciated the convenience Raiden’s arrangements had brought her.
But when she returned home, she found Raiden and Reaghan, one tall and one small, blocking the doorway.
From behind, she heard Raiden’s cold voice.
"Where did you go?"
"The cafeteria," Astrella replied with calm composure. She slipped off her shoes and coat, still feeling the chill from the outside air.
