Arielle sat at the edge of the bed, staring at the curtains that swayed slightly with the night air. It was past midnight. She hadn’t even tried to sleep. Her mind was sharp, restless, and unwilling to shut down. Every step she had taken these past few days—each test, each tiny risk—played back in her head. Nothing had blown up yet, but she knew she couldn’t afford a single mistake.
The problem wasn’t only Kairo. It was the house itself. The staff seemed loyal to him, the walls themselves seemed to carry his shadow. Even when she managed to step outside, every pair of eyes felt like another rope tying her down.
But she was also sure of one thing: he didn’t fully trust her. That suspicion alone was dangerous, but it was also a sign she still had a chance to maneuver. If he suspected her e
