Six months had passed since Emily Vanforte’s death. The weight of her absence still lingered in unspoken moments, but life had moved forward. Devi Mistery and Tate Astur were together now, and today was a significant step—she was about to meet his family.

As she pushed open the door, her breath hitched. A man stood before her. He was a few years older than Tate, with sleek, neatly parted hair that fell silkily on either side of his face. His dark eyes, deep and unwavering, locked onto hers with an unreadable expression—neither welcoming nor hostile, just… emotionless.

For a moment, silence filled the space between them. The air in the entryway felt heavier. There was something about him, something restrained yet intense, like a storm patiently waiting on the horizon.