The door clicked shut behind Julian and Mara, the apartment falling into a quiet that felt heavier than before.

Serena stood still for a moment, staring at the closed door as their footsteps faded down the hall. The laughter, the forced ease of the evening, lingered in the air like something unfinished.

Roman loosened his tie slowly and set his phone on the counter. He didn’t look at her.

Serena moved toward the window, folding her arms around herself as the city lights blinked below.

“So,” she said quietly, without turning around, “you studied medicine.”

Roman exhaled, long and controlled. He had known this was coming.

“Yes.”

“And you were...