ZACK's POV.
She must have a good taste in decorations. I admit it as I slowly take in the surroundings of her house, every detail whispering refinement and thought. The walls were adorned in pristine white, interspersed with the soft iridescence of abalone accents that caught the sunlight streaming through tall windows. There was an almost clinical orderliness to the place, yet somehow it felt lived in, like it had a heartbeat of its own. My eyes were inevitably drawn to a massive black-and-white portrait hanging on one side wall, bold and commanding. The contrast of shadow and light seemed to breathe life into the room.
“You loved the portrait?” she asked, catching me staring at it with unabashed admiration.
I smirked, trying to sound casual. “I love the tradition portrayed in it… the
