Chapter 48: Henessa’s Journal
The morning sun cast a golden glow over the kitchen tiles, warm and lazy. A breeze floated in from the open windows, stirring the curtains and bringing with it the scent of blooming gardenias. The house was still settling from the laughter and foot traffic of yesterday’s small gathering—Viania had visited again, and Leo had stayed late into the evening playing chess with Henrick and teasing Tiania about her childhood quirks.
Tiania, still in her silk robe, sipped tea at the kitchen table while flipping through her planner. Across the room, Henrick was attempting to coax the espresso machine into functioning with one hand, while holding a crayon-scribbled piece of paper in the other.
“I think your daughter left me another one of her secret maps,” he said, amused.
Tiania glanced up, eyes soft. “That’s her spy phase. Yesterday she was convinced you were hiding treasure in the laundry basket.”
