Catherine didn’t want to go home just yet. After leaving her Uncle Lucas’s office, she headed to a park nearby. She needed to clear her mind before returning to the mansion; she knew that if she went back now, the heavy atmosphere of Travis’s home would only crush her spirit further.
She found a place to park and stepped out into the air. Despite it being midday, the park was cooled by a canopy of trees and lush greenery. She wasn't alone. The area was alive with families and couples. She watched a family nearby spread out a mat for a picnic, their laughter ringing through the air.
Catherine found a concrete bench under the shade of a tree and sat down. As she watched the happy family, a bitter, hollow smile touched her lips. She instinctively rested her hand on her stomach.
She felt a
