Trish's POV
The relief of having a pact, a defined structure to navigate the chaos of being alone with Joseph was immediately shattered by the reality of implementation. I had barely slept, haunted by the image of Joseph's weeping confession and the calculated glint in his eyes as he shared his horrific past with me, leading to a fragile pact we both made.
The sun had just barely begun to brighten the guest room windows when the quiet was brutally violated.
I was jolted from my shallow sleep by a booming sound, followed by a fierce voice.
“Rise and shine, Author! It's time!”
My eyes snapped open. Joseph had stormed in. He hadn't just knocked; he had thrown the door wide open, violating my privacy, and leaving me in frenzy – Yes we were getting close, and on friendly terms now… but di
