Aiden returned to the second floor after Emily and Alex left, his footsteps echoing softly in the quiet hallway as he approached Julian's room. The door was ajar, and through the narrow gap, he could see Julian standing by the window, his silhouette outlined by the pale light filtering through the curtains.
Julian's hand rested on the curtain as he slowly pulled it aside, just enough to peek outside. His eyes searched the driveway, and for a brief moment, they lingered on Emily as she walked away with Alex. There was a distant, almost melancholic look in Julian's eyes, as if he were caught between conflicting emotions.
Aiden watched him silently, feeling a pang of empathy for the man who seemed so lost in his own tangled thoughts. Julian was so absorbed in his internal struggle that he didn't notice Aiden approach until the younger man was standing beside him.
