prepare breakfast. As she walked through the grand hallways, the eerie quiet of the mansion felt different this morning. There w

acon and eggs greeted her, already making the large space fee

grin. "Morning, Celine. You know, I might just stay here for the food." He wi

. "That's the plan, right? If I do my jo

han replied, his grin wide

e poured himself coffee. He didn't offer much in terms of words, only a

t it-a presence behind her. She turned, startled, to find Daniel standing

l morning noise. There was something about his tone that made her heart

dy as she set the pancakes down. She couldn't help but notice

ing further into the kitchen, his voice softening as he approache

ing intensity to them that she hadn't expected. She hadn't rea

heart racing as she quickly averted

one," he said, his voice lower now, almost as if he were speaking to himself more than her. There was a

ed them, calling from the dining room. "Ce

a moment, then nodded,

poke one last time, his voice softer this time, bar

ft the kitchen, her mind swirling with t

rying to focus on the tasks at hand, but Daniel's words kept echoing in her mind. She couldn't shake

Liam standing in the doorway, his eyes trained on her. He wa

us. "You're always doing everything. You sho

dden attention. Liam was the quiet one, the o

ile, but there was a weight to her words tha

in. "I know you are, but you don't have to prove

in his eyes that made her feel like he truly saw he

aid, her voice quieter th

and walking away, but his words stayed w

ike Liam, he was quieter than the others, but there was

, his brow furrowing as he n

y. "Yeah, just thinki

nce you got here," Chris remarked

gaze. "I'm used to it," she replied, but

ke again. "I'm serious, Celine. You shouldn't h

retch longer than it should. Chris gave her a small nod

the guest rooms, Celine felt a presence behind her. She turned

he asked, his tone d

mention the words Daniel, Liam, and Chris had said. She was

You know, you don't have to do all this alone,"

"I don't mind. It's j

e look he gave her felt heavier than usual. It

it all together," he said qui

He was right, but she couldn't let them help..not yet

as sitting by the fireplace, as he often did, staring into

rd," he said, his v

could feel his eyes on her as she mov

avy. "Celine, you can't keep doing this." His voice was low but insisten

something she couldn't quite name. "I don't know how to ask

s usual aloofness melted away. "You don't have to ask,

yes locking onto hers as soon as he walked in. He hadn't spoken to her much, but

w. "You've been working hard all

ll smile, shaking h

u're not fine. But you will b

ut still unsure how to let go of the

usual energy cutting through the stillness.

e here telling you to take a break. I'm not going to let you work yourself

him, but his usual carefree attitude made it imposs

felt so...different. And not when the way Jack was holding her hand seemed to m

nt, it was as though time stood still. She could hear her heartbe

since arriving, Celine w