The week that followed the "Maya Incident" was draped in a strange, velvet silence. At the De La Vega estate, the atmosphere had shifted from one of guarded tension to absolute, crystalline obedience. No one whispered in the hallways. No one dared to meet Eloise's eyes with anything less than a deep, reverent bow. The ghost of a severed hand served as a more effective house rule than any manual could.
But away from the cold marble of the estate, Eloise's world was beginning to bloom in colors of flour and roasted beans. The Blue Awning had transformed from a failing relic into a bustling sanctuary.
Her bakery with Ethan had opened with laughter instead of fear. The grand opening had been a whirlwind of flour, caffeine, and the surreal sight of Leo—the man who could snap a neck with two fingers—carefully explaining the notes of an Ethiopian roast to a group of college students.
