Chapter 96. Chef For Daddy: pt. 2

I woke up at exactly 5 a.m., the way I always did. My eyes snapped open in the dark, heart already racing a little, like my body knew it was time to move before anyone else stirred. I slipped out of bed quietly, tiptoeing across the cool floor in my socks so I wouldn’t wake Zainab or anyone else. It was a habit from childhood—moving like a shadow so Uncle Fred wouldn’t hear me if Aunt Clara was out. I pulled on my uniform, smoothed my hair into a neat ponytail, and crept toward the door.

A soft whisper stopped me. “Zara? Where are you going so early?”

I turned. Zainab was sitting up in her bed across the room, rubbing her eyes. “Early?” I whispered back. “It’s five o’clock. Time for me to make breakfast.”

She let out a quiet laugh. “Who makes breakfast at five? Mr. Enzo would be furious if he thought we were making his workers suffer like that. Everyone starts at seven-thirty. Go back to bed, sweetheart. It’s too early.”

I hesitated, then nodded. “Thank you,”