Regina POV — Six Years Later
The hotel always smelled like coffee in the mornings.
Rich, dark, and slightly bitter — the scent drifted through the lobby long before the sun fully rose, curling through the quiet space like a gentle promise of routine. Regina breathed it in as she pushed through the staff entrance, letting the familiar aroma settle her nerves the way it did every day.
Routine was safe.
Routine was predictable.
Routine didn’t wake you in the middle of the night with your heart racing and phantom echoes of dripping water in your ears.
Her boots clicked softly against the polished tile as she crossed behind the reception desk, setting her bag down in the small cabinet beneath the counter. The lobby lights glowed warm and soft, reflecting off dark wood paneling and tall wi
