A Plan

♤Adrian♤ I was in the sitting room, flipping through some random files—something I rarely did. I had a study, but I needed a change of scenery.  That was when she walked in, head low, shoulders hunched, eyes dull. She passed me without a word, heading up the stairs. No greeting, no glare—nothing. And that... well, it unsettled me. I was getting used to rousing a reaction from her. Never good, always bad. I glanced at her retreating form as she disappeared into her room, quietly shutting the door behind her. Something was wrong. Even though she hated me now, Astrid had always been full of light. The only time I’d seen her look this defeated was when she didn’t get into the college she’d been desperate for. Other than that, she was always cheerful—until our breakup. I turned back to the files, but my focus was gone. A battle waged in my mind: go to her or leave it alone? She was an adult. Whatever it was, she could handle it. But that thought didn’t sit right with me. I exhaled sharply a