|Katherine|
Gianna’s arrival came like a whisper in the night—but the kind that stirred everything into motion. The gates creaked open, the lights in the hallways blinked awake one by one, and the quiet rhythm of the mansion broke into a soft frenzy. Despite the flurry of footsteps and hushed voices, my heart felt lighter the moment I saw her.
She stepped inside, looking slightly worn from the abrupt travel but still very much herself. We met halfway across the marble floor and embraced tightly, without a word at first.
“I’m sorry I didn’t make it to the airport,” I murmured, pulling back just enough to see her face.
Gianna gave me that signature smile—gentle, understanding. “It’s okay, Kat,” she said. “This trip wasn’t planned, remember? I just showed up. I didn’t expect a red carpe
