The days following the confrontation on the balcony were filled with a heavy, suffocating tension. Amara had barely spoken to anyone, especially Alexander and Lily, and the atmosphere at the manor had shifted from awkward to hostile. Everyone, including the staff, tiptoed around her, fearing they might trigger an outburst.
Lily tried to focus on her work, but it was impossible to escape the looks of resentment from Amara or the whispers of the staff. Every time she passed Amara in the halls, she felt the weight of her angry glare, and every time she found herself alone with Alexander, the air between them crackled with unresolved emotions.
Alexander, on the other hand, was torn. His growing feelings for Lily were undeniable, but his sense of duty and responsibility to Amara weighed on hi
