Belle's POV
I should have known better than to think peace would last. I should have held my tongue instead of whispering to myself that life had been kind. Maybe I jinxed it. Maybe quiet was only meant to be a pause before the storm. Because today, everything shifted.
It started like any other morning. I woke up with Jasper beside me, his arm heavy around my waist. The light came in soft through the curtains. The air smelled like fresh coffee drifting from downstairs. For a moment, I thought it would be another calm day. I even smiled at the thought.
I moved through the house slowly, taking my time, humming under my breath. I felt light, almost free. Three days of no drama had made me believe I could trust this new rhythm. I should have known better.
