ELOISE’S POV: I stir from my sleep, and my heart quickens as I blink away the remnants of sleep, the echoes of a dream fading like distant whispers. A faint, rhythmic sound reaches my ears—a gentle, lullaby-like melody, the soft hum of the city's nocturnal music. I turn my head to the side, my eyes adjusting to the darkness, and there, beside me, nestling beneath the silken sheets, lay my precious Maddox. My gaze softens as I watch the rise and fall of my Maddox’s chest, his small fingers clutched at a plush teddy bear, a steadfast guardian against the night's shadows. With a tender smile, I reach out and brush a strand of hair from his cheek. But as my senses fully awaken, a sense of unease creeps over me. I can’t smell Braxton’s scent nor feel his strong presence. Panic flutters in my chest, like a bird trapped within a cage of uncertainty. “He isn’t back yet?” I murmur. I slip out of bed, careful not to disturb my Maddox’s peaceful sleep. I pad across the room, my bare feet si
Read more