Wednesday morning arrived with the same quiet knock at nine, but everything underneath it had changed.

Elena opened the door because Victoria had already left for an early meeting. Rosa stood on the step with her caddy, same neat low knot, same professional smile. Elena stepped aside to let her in and kept a careful three feet of space between them, the new rules already sitting in her body like a second set of clothes.

“Morning, Rosa.”

“Good morning, Elena. Just me today?”

“Marcus is around somewhere. Mom’s gone until late.” Elena’s voice came out even. Under the high-necked sweater the bruises across her ribs ached in a low, constant...