The sunlight was aggressive, stabbing through the thin curtains of the guest room like needles. I groaned, shielding my eyes as I realized the sun was already high in the sky. I didn't need a clock to know it was near noon; the heavy stillness of the estate and the dry heat of the air told me the morning was long gone. For a few seconds, I lay there in the quiet, forgetting. Then, the memory of the ballroom, the sneering women, and Lucien’s dismissive, possessive touch crashed back into my mind. My stomach twisted. I dreaded interacting with him after the way I had walked out, but I couldn't hide in this room forever.
I finally forced myself out of bed. My body felt heavy, and my mind felt even heavier. I stepped out of the bedroom and into the adjoining living room, but I stopped dead in
