The night left Alexis with more questions than answers, but after a long rest, she woke up determined to spend the morning in a way she hadn’t in a long time calmly, at home with her family. She avoided thinking about the Carrington estate, the people waiting for her return, and the pressure of an engagement she wasn’t ready to face. It was liberating to let herself drift, even if just for a few hours.
After breakfast, she curled up on the couch and reached for one of her mother’s gossip magazines, the glossy pages promising an escape, even if it was filled with rumors and sensationalism. Her mother was nearby, humming softly as she went about tidying up, the comfort of routine grounding them both. Alexis let herself become absorbed in the stories, smiling faintly at the ridiculous headli
