Chloe’s POV
I woke up with a heavy feeling in my chest.
It was not pain. It was not illness. It was the kind of tightness that came from knowing something was wrong before you had proof. I lay still in bed for several minutes, staring at the ceiling, listening to the sounds of the house.
Footsteps moved down the hallway at the same time they always did. A door opened softly. Somewhere downstairs, plates clinked. The routine had not changed, yet my body refused to relax.
I got out of bed and walked to the window.
Two guards stood near the gate. Another walked slowly along the fence line. One stood closer to the garden, his back straight, his eyes scanning the surroundings.
Nothing looked unusual.
Still, my hands trembled slightly as I pulled the curtain back into place.
I dressed wi
