-Dimitri Sokolov:
I sat at the kitchen table, savoring each bite of the steak I had just prepared for myself, letting the rich, smoky flavor linger with every cut.
The aroma filled the room, making it feel warm and comforting—a quiet moment that I rarely got these days.
I barely noticed when Nikolai and my brother, Alexei, entered the house.
I glanced up, catching sight of Nikolai, his face and body frozen in an expression that didn't quite fit the setting.
He looked pale and terrified.
His gaze was wide, pupils dilated as if caught in a moment of pure fear. I could hear the quickening of his breath and heartbeats as he stood there, stiff as a statue.
Alexei, oblivious to the tension, looked at Nikolai with a small frown of confusion. "Nikolai, what happened? Why did froze up all of a sudden?" His tone was light, but his brows furrowed, watching Nikolai's body language with concern.
