Stella's POV

The morning was still cool when the doorbell rang. I glanced at the kitchen clock. Seven sharp. Larissa really did take our agreed schedule seriously.

I opened the door and found her standing on the porch, dressed simply in jeans and a light blouse, her hair pulled back into a ponytail again. There was that determined spark in her eyes I'd noticed on the first day, but also a shadow of exhaustion she couldn't quite hide.

"Good morning, ma'am," she said with a small smile.

"G