We talked late into the night, the television long since forgotten. The conversation had drifted from the disaster of the wedding to safer, quieter topics—Finn’s new school, the security protocols for the house, the logistics of living under siege.
I yawned, a jaw-cracking sound that I couldn't suppress. My body ached for sleep so badly it felt like my bones were vibrating. The emotional toll of Chloe run away, combined with the adrenaline of the press mob, had left me completely drained.
"Alright," I said, rubbing my eyes and standing up on wobbly legs. "Goodnight, Eric. I think I’m going to crash."
I turned to head toward the guest wing, where I had been staying.
"Hold on, Autumn."
I froze. Eric’s voice stopped me in my tracks. I heard the rustle of his clothes as he stood up as wel
