SERENA'S POV
School activities have settled back into their usual rhythm, and everything seems normal again—at least on the surface. As the day crawls to an end, exhaustion weighs heavily on me. My mind is completely drained from the relentless workload, the never-ending assignments, and the overwhelming pressure of studying. Each subject feels like an uphill battle, and my brain screams for a break.
To make matters worse, Lucian continues to hover around me like an unshakable shadow, never straying more than a few steps away. His sharp, piercing gaze never falters, scrutinizing my every move as if I might flee at any moment. The way everyone looks at me—as if I'm some fragile pet under my father's watchful eye—is beyond frustrating.
I feel suffocated, trapped in this invisible cage of
