Sebastian's POV
The morning breakfast ritual at the Sterling estate had been a solitary experience throughout my life.
As a child and teenager, my parents rarely graced the dining table with their presence. The household staff maintained their professional distance, leaving me to consume my meals in complete silence while mentally organizing the day ahead.
The only exception had been when Arthur joined me.
"You call this breakfast?" my grandfather bellowed, his disapproving gaze fixed on my untouched black coffee and the single piece of toast I'd barely nibbled. "Real men require proper nourishment! Scrambled eggs, thick slices of bread, sliced ham..." He gestured dramatically at his own overflowing plate. "No wonder your entire generation suffers from constant stress. You survive on nothing!"
A genuine smile tugged at my lips despite the fatigue weighing me down. Sleep had eluded me the previous night, my body repeatedly searching for Maya's familiar warmth beside me in bed.
