The next morning, Jerica woke to the soft morning light filtering through the curtains, only to find Jared already awake. As always, he had prepared her breakfast, a comforting routine she never grew tired of.
Jerica rarely saw him in his loungewear in the morning, yet there he was, sitting at the dining table with the daily paper in one hand and a steaming cup of coffee in the other. The sight of him, so effortlessly charming and relaxed, caught her breath. She thought he would be worried about the suspension, but it looked like he had managed to find his peace.
His hair was tousled from sleep, and his smile, warm and inviting, brightened the quiet of the kitchen as she stepped in.
"Here's your hot pancake, Madam," Jared said with a teasing grin, offering her the plate he had carefully kept warm in the oven.
