THIRD PERSON POV
The night air inside the mansion felt heavier than usual, thick with silence and tension. The storm outside had passed, but its echo remained in the sky, a low rumble that seemed to vibrate through the walls. Sebastian sat alone in his study, the faint light of the fireplace washing his features in gold and shadow.
He hadn’t seen Isabella all evening, which was unusual. She was always nearby — quiet, efficient, predictable in her devotion. But tonight, her absence unsettled him.
He looked up when the door finally opened.
Isabella stepped in slowly, her expression unreadable. She wore black — a fitted blouse tucked into a pencil skirt, her hair loose around her shoulders. She moved with unhurried grace, her heels making soft sounds against the floor.
Sebastian frowned
