Adelyn, thinking it was Nigel at the door, hadn't bothered to prepare herself before opening it.
Her hair was tied up in a messy bun, with loose strands falling unevenly around her face. She wore a pair of relaxed shorts and an oversized hoodie that looked almost too big for her frame, as if it could swallow her whole.
Reaching for the handle, she pulled the door open, already speaking —
"Cub, you better —"
Her words faltered mid-sentence when she found no one standing outside.
Her brows knitted together in confusion. For a brief moment, she wondered if she had imagined the doorbell.
But just then —
"… Ma—"
A small, hesitant voice reached her.
Adelyn stilled.
Not just because that voice took her by surprise, but also because it made her heart skip a beat —just for a second.
"… Aunt Ade…lyn."
It was soft. Careful. As though the speaker was not quite sure she had the right to say her name.
Adelyn's gaze slowly dropped downward.
