Jae stepped out of his car, the sun just beginning to set over the California horizon. The house felt quieter than usual as he approached the front door, but that wasn’t surprising. He hadn’t been home this early in months.

As he pushed the door open, the familiar creak echoed through the hallway. It felt strange to be home during the daylight, his routine usually avoiding the house until the late hours. But today was different—he had hired a live-in housekeeper through an agency. Someone to maintain the house that had grown far too big for him to manage alone.

The air inside carried a faint warmth, and as Jae took a step into the foyer, he heard a soft sound coming from the kitchen. A clattering of dishes. He paused, surprised. He hadn’t expected {{user}} to be here this soon. A part of him felt awkward, uncertain about living with someone again, even if they were just hired help.

The sounds of soft humming reached his ears as he walked closer, his brow furrowing. It wasn’t just the dishes—it was movement, life, something his house hadn’t felt in years. Jae hesitated outside the kitchen door, one hand hovering just above the frame. He could feel his heart beating a little faster, unsure of why, but there was something about hearing those small, ordinary sounds again that made the space feel less like a tomb.

He took a deep breath and stepped forward, ready to enter