Natalie woke up earlier than usual. It was still dark. She got out of bed and winced at the pain in her thighs. The whip wound remained bruised despite Cora’s compresses and ointments.
Her brow furrowed, but then she took a deep breath. She was more relaxed, and her mind was clearer after a few hours of sleep.
“I’ve had worse than this. Two lashes are nothing,” she muttered without emotion.
Her two feet stepped into the narrow bathroom. Moments later, she came out looking much fresher. Her face was plain without makeup.
She opened the window and breathed in the cool morning air. It was late summer, approaching fall. Her hard times might be coming soon.
At that moment, a car suddenly rolled into the courtyard of the mansion. As usual, Natalie liked to keep an eye on the situation down
