The days that followed were a blur of mounting tension at the manor. Amara's growing jealousy had reached a breaking point, and she found it nearly impossible to hide. Everywhere she turned, it seemed as though Alexander and Lily were growing closer. They spent more time together than ever before, and it was tearing Amara apart.
Lily, for her part, was doing her best to stay professional, but the pull she felt toward Alexander was undeniable. She knew that getting involved with him was risky—both for her position and for her heart—but there was something about him that made it impossible to stay away.
One evening, after a long day of managing the manor's affairs and dealing with Amara's increasingly hostile attitude, Alexander found himself standing alone on the balcony, staring out at t
