The house settled into an uneasy rhythm as the day wore on. Jessica kept to herself, avoiding Armando as much as possible. She spent most of her time with Alvaro, taking him to the garden or playing with him in the nursery. But the weight of Armando’s presence loomed over her, a constant reminder of her captivity.
By mid-afternoon, Anna brought Jessica a tray of food to the nursery. “You barely ate breakfast,” Anna said gently, setting the tray on a small table. “You need to keep your strength up.”
Jessica nodded absently, her focus on Alvaro, who was tugging at her hair with a delighted grin. “I’ll eat later,” she mumbled.
Anna hesitated, then placed a hand on Jessica’s shoulder. “You’re doing everything you can, Jessica. Don’t let the rest of it weigh you down.”
Jessica glanced up at
