The night was still, the moonlight casting a silver glow over the grand bedroom. Catherine lay curled on her side, her breathing steady as she tried to find peace after the events of the day. Beside her, Lucius lay on his back, his chest rising and falling in a slow rhythm. Yet, even in his sleep, a faint tension lingered in his features, the faint crease between his brows betraying an unrest that Catherine couldn’t see.
The quiet was shattered when Lucius stirred, a low, guttural sound escaping his lips. Catherine shifted slightly, her brows furrowing as she heard him mumbling. She couldn’t make out the words at first, but the tone sent a chill down her spine—anguish, desperation, and something heartbreakingly raw.
“...Minnie...”
The name slipped from his lips, and Catherine froze. Her
