Catherine woke up to the soft light filtering through the curtains, her head slightly heavy from last night’s drinks. It wasn’t a real hangover, just the lingering dullness of exhaustion and alcohol mixing after an intense few weeks. Her body ached from the tension that had settled deep in her muscles, but more than anything, she felt the absence of something—or rather, someone.
Her fingers reached for her phone out of habit. She glanced at the screen, scanning the notifications. Nothing. Still no reply from Lucius.
She exhaled slowly, setting the phone aside. It was fine. He’s busy. He had told her as much, and she had no reason to doubt it. Work had always consumed him, and she knew better than to expect constant messages. And yet, despite the logic of it, something inside her had hope
