I had been stuck here for almost a week, and every passing hour made the walls feel like they were closing in. Staying indoors was a dreadful, suffocating experience. I had essentially barricaded myself in the guestroom to avoid Lucien, and thankfully, he seemed to have taken the hint. He left me alone, though the silence of the estate felt more like a predatory wait than a peace offering.
The staff moved like ghosts, their footsteps muffled by carpets that cost more than my entire education.
I had finally managed to get my phone back, and I clung to it like a lifeline. I spent the rest of my days frantically organizing my resume, my thumbs flying over the screen as I tried to piece together a professional identity from the wreckage of my life. I spent hours applying for jobs, scouring e
