Marian's POV
The scent of vanilla and melted chocolate filled the kitchen as I pulled the last batch of cookies out of the oven. A satisfied hum left my lips as I set the tray down, the golden-brown treats perfectly baked. Baking had always been a quiet escape for me—something about the methodical process of measuring, mixing, and waiting soothed the restless thoughts swirling in my mind.
I grabbed a spatula, carefully lifting a cookie and placing it onto the cooling rack when I heard the front door open.
"Marian?" Aiden's voice carried through the house, a mixture of surprise and curiosity in his tone.
I turned just as he stepped into the kitchen, his tie slightly loosened, his expression shifting from confusion to delight the moment he saw what I was doing. "You're home early," I noted, setting down the spatula.