The drive back to the mansion was a silent one. Henry kept his eyes on the road, his thoughts heavy with the weight of everything that had transpired. Annie, still pale and fragile, sat quietly beside him, her fingers gently brushing against her swollen belly. The soft hum of the engine was the only sound between them, and yet, there was a tension that neither of them could escape.
Annie had been through so much, and Henry couldn’t shake the guilt that gnawed at him. He should have protected her better, should have been more attuned to the subtle manipulations of his wife, Catherina. But now, the real battle was beginning—one that he wasn’t sure he was prepared for.
When they finally arrived, Annie hesitated before stepping out of the car. Her legs felt unsteady beneath her, her body sti
