Chapter 271

Madison

The rest of the meal passed with a few more snippets of conversation, mostly about mundane things: the weather, a new movie Mom wanted to see, and the neighbor’s dog that wouldn’t stop barking.

After dinner, I cleared the table and began washing the dishes. The warm, soapy water was a welcome distraction from my swirling thoughts, and the rhythmic motion of scrubbing the plates offered a semblance of peace. Mom, meanwhile, settled on the couch with one of her beloved mystery novels, her glasses perched at the tip of her nose as she lost herself in the pages.

“I think I’m going to turn in early,” I announced, drying the last plate. “It’s been a long day.”

“Jet lag catching up with you?” Mom asked without looking up from her book.

“Something like that.”

“Sleep well, sweetheart.”

I retreated to my bedroom, closing the door behind me with a soft click. After the luxury of Alexander’s penthouse, the familiar space felt both comfort