Chapter 414

Layla’s POV

Dinner is simple, nothing extravagant, but for the first time in a while, I actually eat. The food tastes fine, but it’s more than that. 

It’s the act of eating with someone else, of sharing a meal, that makes it feel less like an obligation and more like a connection.

We eat in silence for a while, but it’s not the same heavy silence I’ve been feeling all day. 

There’s something calming about it, about being here, together, even if we’re not talking. It’s just... normal. And for now, normal is enough.

After dinner, Jason clears the plates, and I help him clean up. It’s easy, almost too easy. Like we’ve done this a hundred times before, even though we haven’t. 

There’s something comforting about the routine, about doing something so simple and ordinary. 

It doesn’t require a lot of thought or energy, and that’s exactly what I need right now. I need simplicity. I need to feel like I’m part of s