MARIA'S POV
Leaving the room where Connor stood in a moment of vulnerability, I found my way downstairs and settled onto one of the exceptionally comfortable sofas. The silence in the house was deafening, enhancing the feeling of loneliness that had crept into every corner.
As I lay there, my mind wandered, and I couldn't help but reflect on the importance of my mother's presence in my life. The void left by her absence seemed clearer in this unfamiliar setting. Loneliness wrapped around me like a heavy shroud, reminding me of what I had sworn to get used to. Signing this contract was like signing a contract with eternal loneliness; I knew that before signing.
I was pulled out from lamenting when my phone interrupted the silence with a familiar beep.
Glancing at the screen, I saw a me
