: : : Sophie : : :
My eyes open slowly. My vision is still blurry and my mind is hazy as I try to piece together where I am. I know I’m lying on a bed. The bed is soft, and the room is dimly lit, with a faint glow from the morning light seeping through the heavy curtains.
As I look around, observing the furniture — the dark wood that’s elegant but sturdy — it feels familiar to me. I’ve seen this place before. I’m at the De Angelo estate, Kieran’s home. Yes, the familiar scent of pine and earth is unmistakable.
I shift slightly on the bed, my body is still too sore to move, but I manage to lift my head a little, and that’s when I notice them. Kieran is asleep on one side of the room, his face relaxed in a way I rarely see. His presence alone brings me a sense of comfort and security. I
