Chapter 19

• Danielle hadn’t meant to linger in the study. She’d only gone in to look for a book—something to distract her churning thoughts.
• But the scent of cedarwood and faint cologne clung to the room, grounding and familiar. She trailed a finger along the edge of the bookshelf, feeling more at ease here than she would’ve ever expected.
• The house was quiet. Theo had gone to bed early, worn out from his lessons and an afternoon video call with his grandfather. Danielle hadn’t been invited into that conversation—and she didn’t ask. Some boundaries weren’t hers to cross yet.