The following morning was filled with silence. Not the uneasy kind—just the rare quiet that arrived before obligations. Arianne woke at the usual time, while the twins overslept—too excited, too energized after visiting their old home. Sleep, when it came, had taken them all at once.
It was already eight in the morning, and even Franz hadn't descended from his room yet.
Arianne decided to appreciate the rare slow morning before facing yet another busy day at the Rochefort Group. She enjoyed her cup of coffee in the garden, which was still undergoing renovation.
The garden looked unfinished, but not neglected. The stone pathways were already laid out on the ground; newly planted roses, daisies, and bougainvilleas added color to the scene.
