The morning sun filled the master bedroom, bringing a quiet end to the long, stressful weekend. We survived the massive charity gala last night without suffering a public scandal. My physical exhaustion faded after a few hours of sleep, but the heavy mental weight of the photograph remained firmly planted in my mind. I changed into a pair of dark denim jeans and a simple black sweater, choosing clothes that felt practical for the difficult day ahead.
Mason stood near the tall windows wearing his standard dark suit trousers and a crisp white shirt. He did not wear his formal silk tie today. We walked downstairs together and ate a quick breakfast in the kitchen. We did not speak very much during the meal because we both knew we had a serious task to complete.
After we finished our coffee, Mason guided me down the hallway and into his formal study.
