Chapter 138

Sarah's POV The first light of dawn woke me from a fitful sleep. My body craved more rest, but the moment I remembered Elena's damaged wedding dress waiting for my attention, I forced myself upright. Not wanting to disturb Aria, who was still curled up beneath the covers beside me, I slipped from the bed as quietly as possible. Her peaceful breathing continued undisturbed as I tiptoed to our small kitchenette to prepare breakfast. By the time Aria stumbled out of her room, rubbing sleep from her eyes, I had arranged a modest feast on our little table—scrambled eggs, toast with jam, and freshly squeezed orange juice. "Morning, sleepyhead," I said, my heart warming at the sight of her tousled hair and drowsy expression. No matter what chaos swirled around us, Aria remained my anchor, my reason for pushing forward every day despite everything I'd lost. "Mom," she mumbled, dropping into a chair and immediately reaching for the orange juice. "You didn't sleep well." It wasn't a question. My