The night air outside the hotel was cool when they finally returned to their temporary home. The moon hung quietly above the city skyline, and the streets shimmered under the faint glow of streetlights. Hugo opened the car door for Lea, his usual gentle smile greeting her even after a long day of work. She gave a small nod, murmuring a soft thank you before stepping out.
Their walk through the corridor was quiet. The kind of silence that wasn't cold—just full of unspoken things. Hugo carried her bag with one hand, his other casually brushing hers, but Lea didn't say a word. She hadn't mentioned her mother or her stepfather since that day on the island. Not even once. And Hugo never forced her to.
