Chapter 1677

Mason's phone started ringing just as they finished dinner. It was Reuben calling to discuss work. For once, he didn't argue with Avery about cleaning up. Instead, he told her to do just the basics since someone would come to clean the place tomorrow. Then he stepped aside to take the call. Avery agreed easily, but as soon as Mason left the room, she tidied up more than she'd planned. After all, it was their shared space for now, and it wasn't even that messy to begin with. Once she finished, Mason was still on his call. Avery could hear him coughing occasionally—a sound that reminded her how much worse his cold seemed compared to hers. She poured him a glass of warm water but didn't want to interrupt his conversation. Instead, she settled onto the couch with her phone, scrolling through social media to pass the time. The evening sky outside darkened, and the living room filled with a cozy stillness. Normally, being away from home late at night made Avery feel uneasy, but being