Anna’s POV
When we finally pulled up to the gates of Goldenleaf Manor, I turned to him with genuine gratitude.
“Thank you for everything today, Uncle Marcus,” I said softly in the quiet of the car. “Would you like to come in for some tea before you go?”
The corner of his mouth lifted slightly, almost imperceptibly. “Not tonight.”
I nodded, surprised at the small sting of disappointment his refusal stirred in me. Stepping out of the car, I leaned down to look through the window.
“Get some rest, then. I’ll see you at William’s this weekend.”
“Good night, Anna,” he replied simply, his expression unreadable as always.
As his sleek car disappeared around the bend, an odd emptiness settled in my chest. Over the past few weeks, his presence had become a curious constant in my life reassuri
