The kitchen fell silent afterward except for the soft sizzling sound from the pan.
She lowered the phone casually before turning around… and froze instantly because Alaric stood only a few feet away.
Watching her.
The expression on his face made her stomach tighten immediately.
Not with anger.
Not with irritation.
Just… Disappointment.
Quiet disappointment.
Somehow that felt far worse.
For several seconds, neither of them spoke.
Elena's fingers slowly lowered from around the phone while Alaric simply stared at her silently. The warmth from earlier that morning suddenly felt painfully distant now.
"Elena… What was that?"
His voice came out lower than she expected.
Too calm. And that calmness unsettled her more than shouting ever could.
She immediately stepped forward instinctively. "It's not what you think."
A faint humorless smile crossed his face. "That line usually means it's exactly what I think."
"It's complicated, Alaric."
"Clearly."
