It was nearing noon when the knock came.
Soft. Steady. Almost unsure.
Sofia had been sitting by the window, knees pulled to her chest, the untouched tray of breakfast still on the table. She didn't answer right away. She thought maybe it was one of the house staff. Maybe Elise had come anyway.
But when she opened the door—
It was Raymond.
Wearing a navy suit without a tie, his expression unreadable, hands tucked neatly into his coat pockets.
"I hope I'm not intruding," he said, voice low. "They told me you hadn't come downstairs."
Sofia blinked, startled. "You... came here?"
"I read the headlines," he said simply. "And then I saw the photo."
Her chest tightened.
Of course, he had seen it. Everyone had. The headlines, the speculation, the image of her kissing Adam while he barely touched her back.
"And?" she asked, bracing herself.
Raymond didn't answer immediately.
