-Caspian Grayson:
Before I could properly respond to what Dad had just said, the atmosphere in the office shifted again in a way that made it impossible to ignore what was happening around me, even if I wanted to stay focused on the book in front of me.
The door opened without hesitation, like whoever was coming in didn't even consider knocking properly, and Pops walked inside. The change in the room was immediate, not loud or dramatic, but subtle in a way that only became obvious when you were used to the silence beforehand. It was as if the space itself adjusted to his presence, becoming slightly warmer, slightly more alive, like the house recognized him and softened around him automatically.
He wasn't dressed in his usual formal attire anymore. Instead, he wore loose, dark sleepwear that looked comfortable and slightly wrinkled, like he had changed out of his responsibilities for the day and into something more domestic.
