Chapter 62 Chapter 62

Chapter 62 Chapter 62
The next morning, I woke up to the unmistakable smell of fresh coffee filling the air. I stretched, the sheets sliding against my skin, and quickly slipped on my nightgown before leaving the bedroom.

I went down the stairs quietly, the cool floor contrasting with the warmth of the morning. In the middle of the living room, Ayla was lying on her little bed, giggling softly as she chewed on her teddy bear’s ear. The sound of her laughter brought a smile to my lips before I even realized it.

"Good morning, my princess," I murmured, bending down to fix a strand of her blond hair before heading to the kitchen.

The aroma of coffee and warm bread surrounded me as soon as I walked in. Dominic stood with his back turned, focused, stirring something in the pan. His white shirt was a little wrinkled, the sleeves rolled up, revealing his forearms. "Hmm... that smells amazing," I commented, leaning against the doorframe with my arms crossed.

He turned around, a soft smile appearing on his face as he dried his hands with a towel. "I thought it’d be nice to start the day with a hearty breakfast."

"And Maria?" I asked, stepping closer to the already-set table.

"I gave her the day off," he replied, leaning slightly to kiss my cheek. "Breakfast is on me today."

I smiled, watching him for a moment. The morning light streamed through the windows, reflecting off his hair.

I sat at the table while Dominic finished putting the dishes together. The sound of the pan sizzling mixed with the smell of coffee and toasted bread, and for a moment, everything felt almost too peaceful.

"You’re getting good at this," I commented, watching him move naturally around the kitchen. He sliced fruit, flipped pancakes, and poured coffee like he’d been doing it for years.

Dominic chuckled without looking at me. "I’ve always been good at this." He flipped a pancake with a quick motion and glanced over his shoulder. "Want to taste the sauce, or are you going to doubt me again?"

I rolled my eyes, laughing. "After the last time you almost used salt instead of sugar, I’m not sure I trust you that much."

"That was a strategic accident," he said, pretending to be offended. "And besides, that was your fault. You switched the jars."

"My fault? I was just trying to make your kitchen look less like a morgue." I smiled.

He placed the plate in front of me — golden pancakes, sliced fruit, and honey dripping slowly. The smell was irresistible.

"This looks amazing," I said, picking up my fork. I took the first bite and closed my eyes for a second. "Okay... you win. It’s perfect."

Dominic sat beside me, pouring coffee into our cups. "Told you," he said with that smug smile that made me laugh even when I didn’t want to.

"And Ayla?" I asked, glancing toward the living room.

"Already took care of her. Oh, and she drank from the bottle today. I think she got your calm nature."

"Calm?" I raised an eyebrow. "You must be confusing people."

He laughed and stole a piece from my plate without asking. I reached for his hand out of reflex, pretending to scold him — but without any real intention behind it.