|Carmella|
I found myself running, my steps quick and uneven, heading toward the rear of the estate where the lake shimmered under the dimming twilight. The cool evening air brushed against my face as I reached the shore, my feet sinking into the soft, damp grass. The water stretched out before me, calm and unmoving, reflecting the last traces of daylight in fading ripples. For a moment, I just stood there, staring, lost in the stillness.
My heart hammered in my chest, my mind a tangled mess of panic and dread. What was I supposed to say to Theodore? How could I explain the conversation I had with my parents? If he overheard everything from the beginning, I might still be able to spin it, make an excuse. But if he hadn’t—if he only caught fragments—he would undoubtedly think I was betray
