Chapter 59. Trembling Heart

Author's POV

The morning air was filled with the comforting scent of freshly brewed coffee, warm butter, and crisping bacon. Sunlight filtered through the large kitchen windows, casting golden hues across the marble counters. The atmosphere felt light, peaceful—almost as if, for once, everything was normal.

Adeline stood at the stove, humming softly as she flipped pancakes onto a plate. A rare, genuine smile curled on her lips. It had been so long since she had felt this—this warmth, this sense of home.

It wasn’t much, just breakfast, but it was hers. A moment of simplicity in a life filled with chaos.

She wanted to give a happy life to Vladimir and she could go to any extent to keep that smile on his face.

As she arranged the plates on the long dining table, she heard approaching footsteps. She turned just in time to see Vladimir entering the kitchen, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, his hair a mess from just waking up.

“Adeline,”