“It is,” Caroline agreed quickly, oblivious or perhaps indifferent to the tension in my tone. “I thought... considering everything, it might be helpful. You could use this to rest. Recuperate. Maybe make plans for the future.”
The phrase might have sounded kind coming from anyone else, but from Caroline, it was sickly sweet poison. Every word felt carefully chosen to remind me of my precarious position.
For a moment, neither of us spoke. The sounds of the garden filled the silence: birds chirping on distant branches, the faint rustle of leaves swaying in the breeze.
I met her gaze squarely, holding firm. “I appreciate the offer. But I’m afraid I’ll have to decline.”
Caroline blinked, her composure flickering for just a heartbeat. “Decline?”
“Yes,” I said. My voice was steady, eve
