Chapter 48

ELORA'S POV By the time I stepped out of the bathroom with steam still clinging to my skin, Lucian was already out of bed. The room felt strangely empty without him, though I quickly brushed off the thought and headed to the dining room for breakfast. The smell of freshly baked bread, eggs, and brewed coffee filled the room. Grandma was already seated at the head of the table with Nora beside her, and Lucian sat across them. He was casually sipping from his cup, eyes fixed on his plate as though he hadn't just walked out without saying a word. “Good morning, Grandma,” I greeted softly before taking the seat next to Lucian. “Morning, dear,” she replied with a warm smile. We'd barely gotten through a few bites when Nora’s small, innocent voice broke the quiet. “Daddy, do you like hugging mummy while sleeping?” I almost choke on my drink. The warmth in my throat turned into a sharp burn as I coughed, quickly grabbing the napkin to wipe off the coffee stains. Lucian’s hand twitched towards