Imperial Heights.
Anthony had been up all night dealing with the Olivia situation, not getting to bed until four in the morning. He slept so deeply that it took him a moment to wake up, groggy and disoriented. His hand automatically reached for the other side of the bed, but all he felt was a cold, empty space. That jolted him awake fast.
He glanced at the clock on the nightstand. Six thirty. Where could Lottie be at this hour? She almost never got up before eight.
He sat up right away, grabbed the first jacket he could find, and hurried downstairs, his long strides echoing through the quiet house.
“Good morning, Mr. Blair,” Helen greeted him, balancing a tray of breakfast with her usual gentle smile.
“Where’s Charlotte?” He looked around the living room, but didn’t see her anywhere. His brows drew together, worry flickering across his face.
“Is Charlotte up already?” Helen looked confused. “I’ve been in the kitchen for a while, but I haven’t seen her come down.”
So she hadn’t seen her either. Anthony’s expression darkened, a chill settling over him. He picked up his phone, ready to call Charlotte, when suddenly he heard a voice behind him.
“Looking for me?”
Charlotte strolled in, dressed in comfy clothes with her hair in a ponytail. A soft smile played on her lips, her entire delicate face glowing in the morning light.
“Where’d you go so early?” Anthony relaxed a little when he saw her. He walked over, brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear, his voice low and a bit raspy from sleep.
“Just went for a run,” Charlotte said, her eyes meeting his. “I couldn’t sleep, woke up early. I didn’t want to disturb you, so I went out for a walk.”
Anthony studied her face, not entirely convinced by her answer, but he couldn’t find a reason to doubt her either.
“There’s too much dew in the morning. Not the best time for a run,” he said softly, ruffling her hair. “Are you hungry?”

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