Annabelle didn’t sleep in her bedroom that night. Derek’s words still rang in her ears, but her refusal to comply wasn’t merely out of rebellion. It was her attempt at finding solace, a desperate bid for peace in a house that had become a cage.
She wrapped the blanket around herself, her mind swirling with thoughts. The guest room was cold, the bed unfamiliar, but it was better than sharing space with a man whose very presence suffocated her.
Her gaze wandered to the wine bottle she had sneaked into the room earlier. The soft moonlight glinted off its surface, beckoning her.
"Just a sip to calm my nerves," she reasoned, reaching for it.
The wine was rich and sweet, its warmth spreading through her like a balm. She leaned back against the headboard, letting the tension in her shoulders
