Aria walked into the dining room just as Damian and Selene were sitting in an uncomfortable quiet. The air felt thick enough to slice.

She paused. “Good morning.”

Selene let out a dramatic sigh — loud, irritated — then grabbed her bag and strutted out without so much as eye contact.

Aria blinked. Okay… what was that?

Damian didn’t answer her greeting. He didn’t even look at her. He just stood, straightened his suit jacket, and walked past her like she wasn’t standing there.

The silence wrapped around her like cold fog.

Aria whispered to herself, What in the cold-war nonsense is happening here?

Before she could unravel anything, Damian’s...