The golden light of dawn filtered through the heavy curtains of Belle’s room, casting long shadows across the furniture. Belle stirred under the covers, the faint chirping of birds barely reaching her ears through the thick silence of the mansion. For a fleeting moment, she forgot where she was. Then reality hit—cold and crushing as ever.
She sat up slowly, her mind weighed down by the events of the past weeks. Life under Ashton’s watchful eye was suffocating, and every new day seemed to bring fresh uncertainties. She ran a hand through her tangled hair, willing herself to face another day of quiet endurance.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden knock on the door. It wasn’t the usual soft knock she’d grown accustomed to from the staff or Macbeth who brought her meals. This was firme
