The next morning, Kate woke up and found no one beside her. She took a shower, picked out something suitable for university—jeans and a T-shirt—tied her hair in a ponytail, put on sneakers, grabbed her laptop and a few notebooks, and headed downstairs. The house was silent and empty.

She walked to the study. Bastien was smoking, a glass of whiskey in his hand. Lucca stood up as soon as he saw her.

—Good morning, miss. Have you had breakfast?

—Good morning, Lucca. No, not yet. —Kate looked at Ba