He had built a life where control was everything.
Tonight was supposed to be simple.
A quiet dinner. A small celebration. A rare moment to enjoy something familiar.
Victor glanced down at the plate in front of him. The dish was one he always ordered when he wanted to remember where he came from—slow-cooked, rich, comforting.
For a brief second, he allowed himself to relax.
Then a voice shattered everything.
“Don’t eat that!”
A Voice No One Expected