Twilight of Shadows | LingOrm (GxG)

TWELVE

Lada woke up slowly, noticing the space beside her was cold and empty.

Her heart skipped a beat. The last thing she wanted was to relive the fear of abandonment she'd felt when her ex-husband vanished without a trace, and now, despite the genuine connection she felt with Earn, a familiar dread threatened to overwhelm her.

Not again...

Lada threw off the covers, her feet hitting the floor as she padded through the quiet penthouse. Her mind raced, battling between logic and old wounds. Earn wouldn't leave-she had to believe that. But the fear was there, lingering like a shadow.

The scent of coffee and something cooking pulled her from her thoughts. As she neared the kitchen, she slowed, peeking around the corner.

There they were-Earn and Narin, side by side in the kitchen. Lada's heart softened at the sight, a wave of relief washing over her, but a small frown tugged at her lips. Earn stood in Lada's oversized pajamas, her hair a messy halo around her head, laughing softly with Narin, who was carefully stirring something in a bowl. Flour dusted both of them, and the scene was almost too domestic, too peaceful.

Lada leaned against the doorframe, watching for a moment before speaking. "What's going on here?" she asked, her voice quiet but amused.

Earn turned, flashing her that familiar grin. "Good morning. We're making breakfast."

"Well, trying to," Narin added, her face lit up with excitement. "I'm the head chef, and Aunty Earn is my assistant!"

Lada's lips twitched, torn between laughing and asking how the two of them had ended up in this flour-covered mess. "I can see that."

Lada's heart lifted slightly at the sight, though her nerves still tensed.

"Morning. I didn't expect to wake up alone. I-"

Earn stepped closer, leaning on the counter with an exaggerated wink. "I didn't mean to disappear. I was hoping breakfast in bed might do the trick, but clearly, we've been caught red-handed."

Narin giggled, flour smeared across her cheek. "Yeah, Mommy, we were gonna surprise you!"

Lada shook her head, finally letting a small laugh escape. "A surprise, huh?"

She moved further into the kitchen, the tension she'd felt upon waking starting to melt away. It wasn't the grand gesture of breakfast that did it, but the simple sight of her two girls working together-Earn blending effortlessly into their little world.

Narin glanced between them, then offered her spoon with a proud smile. "You wanna taste, Mommy?"

Lada knelt beside her, taking the spoon and tasting the batter with a thoughtful hum. "Not bad, Chef. Could use a little more sugar, though."

Narin beamed at the praise, already reaching for the sugar. Earn chuckled, her gaze lingering on Lada. "See? We make a pretty good team."

Lada looked back at Earn, the warmth between them undeniable. The fear that had gripped her earlier was fading, replaced with something deeper, something safe. "Yeah," she murmured, her tone soft. "We do."

Earn's gaze softened as she reached out to take Lada's hand.

"I'm really sorry if I worried you. I just thought starting the day with something light and fun might be a good way to ease into things. I didn't want to add to your stress."

Lada's eyes softened in response.

"I appreciate that. It's just... everything feels so new. We barely know each other, and last night was... intense. I'm not sure what this is between us yet, but I don't want to push you away."