As Lily stepped through the threshold of their shared estate, her footsteps seemed to echo the disarray of her thoughts. The moonlit corridors, once familiar and comforting, now held an air of uncertainty. Each shadow whispered secrets, and each whisper seemed to mock her inner turmoil.
She found herself in front of the grand hall, a room that had witnessed countless gatherings, decisions, and the forging of bonds. Now, it bore witness to the turmoil that churned within her. The polished marble floor reflected the glow of the chandeliers, casting an ethereal light that did little to soothe her unease.
The events of the night replayed in her mind, Nikolai's enigmatic presence and that electrifying kiss. She couldn't deny the complexity of her emotions, the way they tugged at her with an a
