The sunlight streamed through the wide windows of the country house, spilling across the pale wooden floor. Outside, the family’s familiar chaos filled the air: laughter ringing out, voices overlapping, children shouting in the pool, while the smell of grilled meat mingled with the sweet fragrance of flowers in the garden. For everyone else, it was just another ordinary family lunch — but not for Madelyn. In the kitchen, she was finishing the fruit cake, focused on spreading the white frosting. Her hair, tied up hastily, left a few loose strands framing her face, and a smudge of chocolate stained her blouse. Even so, her eyes kept drifting to the window. Watching the children laugh tugged the corner of her lips into a distracted smile. That’s when it happened. A firm, warm embrace from behind. Her heart skipped a beat. His scent was unmistakable.