Franz pushed through the front door at half past ten, tie loosened, collar unbuttoned, the weight of a twelve-hour day still pressed into his shoulders. Rochefort Group's operations review had run long. Lucas had stayed late with him. The driver had waited.
He heard laughter before he saw the sitting room.
Not polite laughter. The kind that came from somewhere lower than the chest.
Franz stopped in the doorway.
Aunt Estella was in the armchair, tea in hand, laughing so hard her shoulders shook. Leo was on the floor surrounded by wooden blocks. A tower was rising. Unstable. Magnificent.
Lily was on the couch. Arms crossed. Expression thunderous.
And Arianne sat beside her, not fixing anything, just present. One hand resting on the cushion between them. Her hair was down. She wasn't wearing work clothes.
Franz stayed in the doorway. Watching.
"—not fair," Lily was saying, her voice climbing toward a whine. "I'm the only girl. Leo has Kyle. Who do I have?"
