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David set his coat on the back of a chair and smiled. “It’s been busy, but in a good way. We just closed a major deal last week.”

Mrs. Lay beamed. “That’s wonderful, dear! Amelia mentioned you’ve been working nonstop. You must be exhausted.”

David chuckled, exchanging a glance with Amelia. “It’s been a hectic few months, but nothing I can’t handle.”

Amelia leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. “Oh, don’t let him fool you, mum. He barely sleeps these days.”

Mr. Lay shook his head with a knowing smile. “Hard work pays off, son, but don’t forget to take care of yourself. Speaking of which…” He turned to Amelia. “And how about you, Amelia? You’ve always got your nose buried in those ancient symbols and artifacts, or those stars on the sky.” Mr. Lay said with a chuckle, stirring his tea. “Still working on that ancient Greek mystery you were telling us about?” Amelia smiled, absently tracing the rim of her cup. “Always. I’ve been researching some unusual astrological alignments that coincide with ancient texts. There are patterns, connections… things that don’t quite add up.”

Mrs. Lay raised an eyebrow. “Still chasing the stars, are we?”

David smirked. “You should see our house. Charts, constellations, books about forgotten myths—it’s like a blend of an observatory and an archaeology lab.”

Amelia playfully rolled her eyes. “Well, history and the stars have always been intertwined. People used to navigate their entire lives by those.” Her tone shifted, growing more serious. “But this time, it’s different. I think I’ve stumbled onto something much bigger.”

At that, Amelia hesitated for just a second, her fingers tightening around the warm teacup in her hands. “Actually… yes. And I think I might have found something.”

The room grew quieter, the crackling fireplace the only sound filling the pause. Mr. and Mrs. Lay exchanged a glance, their expressions shifting to concern.