43. Crowds. Leo pov

I woke up earlier than usual, stretching as I sat up in bed. The morning sunlight streamed through my window, casting golden streaks across the hardwood floor. It was one of those rare mornings when everything felt still—peaceful even. But I knew that peace wouldn't last. Not with everything going on.

For now, I wanted to focus on one thing: making breakfast for Lila.

The thought made me smile as I slid out of bed and pulled on a hoodie. It had been so long since I'd cared this much about someone's comfort. Lila had been through too much, and she deserved at least one morning that felt normal.

The house was quiet as I padded toward the kitchen. I rolled up my sleeves, grabbed a pan, and got to work. Scrambled eggs, toast, fresh fruit, and a pot of coffee. I wasn't exactly a professional chef, but I could handle the basics.

I was just about to flip an egg when I heard soft footsteps behind me.

"You're cooking?"