Georgiana walked back into the house, the familiar scent of breakfast enveloping her like a warm blanket. The sun streamed through the windows, illuminating the dining room where her father sat at the head of the table, a newspaper spread out before him. To his right, Carlos was animatedly recounting a story from the office, laughter bubbling between them. Laila, sitting next to Arthur, looked up from her phone with an annoyingly bright smile. Georgiana’s heart sank; she had always felt a pang of irritation at Laila’s presence.
She took a breath, plastering on a smile as she approached the table. .
“Good morning, everyone,” she said, her voice bright despite the turmoil beneath the surface. She settled into her seat next to her father, who looked at her expectantly.
“How’s everything go
