The room held the deep hush of dawn, a pale wash of light pressing against the curtains.
Matteo stirred first, his body shifting with the quiet precision of a man long accustomed to early mornings.
He eased himself up, careful not to disturb the warm weight curled against him, and swung his legs over the edge of the bed.
The floor was cool beneath his bare feet as he crossed to the desk.
He opened the laptop with a muted click, the screen's glow spilling into the dim room.
His fingers moved across the keys, steady and practiced, reviewing the reports that had filled his inbox overnight.
But his attention wasn't on the flickering text.
From the corner of his eye, he watched the bed.
Felix lay tangled in the sheets, curled toward the emptiness Matteo had left behind.
His chest rose and fell in an uneven rhythm, his lips parted as if whispering to some phantom.
A faint crease was etched between his brows, his expression restless.
