The sun had barely risen, its golden light casting a warm glow over the quiet estate. The air was still, filled only with the distant chirping of birds. In Cristine’s room, everything was in perfect order, as if nothing had happened. The bed was neatly made, her belongings placed precisely where they belonged, and a serene calmness lingered—a stark contrast to the storm raging in Cristine’s heart the night before.
She had spent hours sitting at her desk, her pen trembling as she wrote the hardest letter of her life. Each word felt like a dagger piercing her soul, but she knew there was no other way. Catalina had given her an ultimatum, and if sacrificing her happiness meant saving Andrei, then she would do it. Her love for him transcended her own desires; it was a love that demanded her t
