Bella's POV
I had stepped outside for a brief walk after tucking the children into bed. They still hadn't met Vance since we had spent nearly the entire day dealing with council matters. I wasn't even certain they realized their father had arrived.
Following our return from the council meeting and once the kids were settled for the night, we shared dinner without exchanging a single word. The silence had become suffocating, so I decided to escape for some fresh air. As I made my way back toward the house, I spotted Parker emerging from the guesthouse, his stride purposeful as he headed directly toward me. Something in his expression made me slow my pace immediately. He clearly had something on his mind.
"Still awake?" I questioned when we met halfway.
