Nora Vanderbilt's life takes a mysterious turn when a near-death experience grants her extraordinary abilities, catching the attention of the enigmatic Dr. Hunter Aloysius Percy. Invited to join an exclusive research study on NDE survivors, Nora is...
Nora stands in the doorway, clutching her phone as she processes the sight of Hunter sprawled out on the sofa. His head rests against the arm, his tie loosened and his shirt wrinkled from a long night. His eyes flutter open as he stirs, blinking at her with a groggy but soft smile.
"I didn't mean to wake you," he says, his voice rough with exhaustion. "I was called in last night to deliver a baby. It was late by the time I finished, and I figured I'd just come here, sleep on the sofa, and wait for everyone to get up. Thought I'd make breakfast."
She takes a step closer, her brows knitting in concern as she looks at the dark circles under his eyes. "Hunter, you look exhausted," she says gently. "Why don't you go lay down in my bed and rest? I'll make breakfast for us."
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He waves her off with a faint chuckle, sitting up slowly and rubbing the back of his neck. "No, I'm fine," he insists. "I've done this before—power through with some coffee and food. Besides, I don't want to miss time with the boys."
"Still," she presses, folding her arms. "You're no good to anyone if you burn yourself out. Just a couple of hours. I'll make sure you're up in time to see them."
Hunter looks at her, his expression softening at the genuine concern in her voice. "You're really going to insist on this, aren't you?"
"Yes," she says firmly, her lips twitching into a small smile. "Doctor's orders."
He chuckles at that, running a hand through his messy hair. "All right," he concedes, pushing himself off the sofa. "But just for a bit. If you need anything, just wake me."
"I think I can handle breakfast," she teases, her smile widening as he heads toward the stairs.
As he disappears up to her room, she moves to the kitchen, rolling up her sleeves and setting to work. The quiet of the early morning feels oddly peaceful, a brief respite from the chaos of her thoughts. She cracks eggs into a bowl, her mind drifting as she beats them, the rhythm of the whisk almost meditative.
Despite everything, there's something grounding about this routine—about caring for these people, even if they aren't hers. But the feeling is bittersweet, a reminder of the life she's longing to return to.
As the smell of coffee and bacon fills the house, she glances at the clock, wondering how long she can let Hunter sleep before the boys start waking up. For now, she focuses on the task at hand, letting the simplicity of the moment anchor her in this strange, borrowed life.
The kitchen was filled with the warm scent of freshly brewed coffee, sizzling bacon, and buttery pancakes as Nora moved around the space, plating scrambled eggs and toasting bread. She hummed softly under her breath, finding some comfort in the act of cooking even though her thoughts were scattered.
Bishop padded into the kitchen, still in his pajamas, rubbing sleep from his eyes. He paused in the doorway, taking in the sight of the full spread on the counter. "What's the occasion?" he asked, his tone suspicious as he sniffed the air.
