The Mistress.

ordinary-the soft yellow light of dawn, the crisp grass still glistening with dew, and the hum of morning birds that she could hear faintly through the glass. But somehow, the scene fe

ere for longer than a few restless nights. It had started as a faint, flickering sensation that she could easily ignore, like a faint tug at the b

oke through her thoughts, pulling h

the straps of his dinosaur-themed backpack. His bright eyes-so full of curios

ruffle his hair, letting her smile fill her voice. "

out space today. Did you know that Saturn has ring

rprise. "Rock and ice? Well, that sounds am

irm, self-important nod, and she laughed softly, his seriousness di

oward the front door. "You go and conquer space,

ergy only children seemed to have. The moment the door clicked shut behind him, however, a familiar quiet settle

'm just being silly. But no matter how much she tried to brush the thought away, a tiny voice lingered, whispering things she didn't want to acknowledge.

e explore-that seemed to question if this was it.

o respond to before the afternoon. This was no time for daydreaming or indulging in ridiculous, self-centered thoughts. Grabbing her planner off the kitchen island, she flipped it

wn to see a text from Sophie: Lunch today? Need to

hy were a welcome distraction, her unfiltered humor a reliable balm. She sent back a qu

ts perfectly planned moments and predictable routines, was somehow slipping away from her, bit by bit. And she didn

with his usual enthusiasm. Victoria moved between the stove and the sink, checking on a simmering pot of pasta as she mentally cataloged tomorrow's tasks. The domestic warmth of the kitchen, combine

lled the entryway. She called out, "Hey, you're home e

ant. "Yeah, just needed a break from the office." He set his briefcase down and

more deliberate. She tried to brush off the prickling sensation creeping up her spine. I

udging Ethan to follow suit. "So, how was work today?" s

replying. "Same as always-meetings, calls, a few minor crises. Nothing new." Hi

d and colorless than the last. She knew the cadence of his stories, the way he could usually slip into recounting something funny or abs

the wood with a soft but insistent hum. Daniel's eyes darted down, and hi

p Ethan's food. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught the subtle change in his expression-the

ying to keep her tone casual, th

y, not quite meeting her eyes. "

asking more, maybe pushing just a little, but there was something in his body language-a subtle, almost imperceptibl

s far removed. She noticed the way his eyes glazed over during dinner, his responses to her questions turning curt, automatic. When Eth

r shutting behind him with a soft click. That door had rarely been closed before. It was a small detail, but it didn't escape her noti

e the dissonance. He's been under a lot of pressure lately. Bu

voices he loved. But even as Ethan giggled and snuggled into her side, her mind kept drifting, replayin

dy, where the faint glow of Daniel's computer screen seeped through the slightly ajar door. She hesi

of detachment that had haunted her earlier in the day returned, deeper now, settling around her like a weight. She closed her eye