Christopher sat alone in his study, the quiet scratch of his pen moving across paper the only sound in the room. Shadows curled at the edges of the lamplight, and the air held a stillness that wasn’t quite peaceful. He paused mid-sentence, the ink drying beneath his fingertips as his thoughts wandered, to Racheal.
Her words echoed in his mind, sharp and filled with something venomous.
He closed his eyes briefly, then exhaled. A muscle ticked in his jaw.
His gaze shifted to the telephone on the corner of his desk. Without hesitation, he reached for it and dialed. A servant answered quickly, the voice distant on the other end.
“Bring Olivia to my study.” His voice was low, controlled.
He hung up without another word.
Minutes passed. He didn’t move, just stared ahead at nothing. Then a
