Chapter 246 Non-negotiable

• When Henry returned home, the house was dim and hushed. The aroma of something warm and savory drifted from the kitchen. There, by the counter, stood Elise—quiet and absorbed, stirring something in a small saucepan. She wasn’t cooking a feast, just enough for herself. Something simple. Something that gave her a moment of peace.
• He stood in the doorway for a beat, watching her. Her bare feet padded softly on the tiles. She wore a loose, flowy dress, her hair tied messily at the nape of her neck. She didn’t know he was home yet.
• Without a word, he moved toward her, his footsteps silent. When he reached her, his large, calloused hands wrapped around her waist—firm, rough, unmistakably possessive. Elise jolted in surprise, the spoon clattering into the pot as she spun around, gasping softly when she saw him.