The air was heavy with unease the following morning as Scarlett woke to the soft hum of voices outside her room. She rubbed her temples, still feeling the faint remnants of the panic attack that had overwhelmed her the night before. Her mother had been adamant about her resting today, but rest was the last thing on Scarlett’s mind. She needed clarity—needed to figure out how the threads of this unraveling tapestry were connecting. Grey Mercer, James, Ethan’s sudden presence, and now Daniel’s departure for Stormhaven. It all felt like a web tightening around her.
Pulling herself out of bed, Scarlett changed into a simple dress and stepped out into the hallway. The air was unusually tense, and the servants scurried about, barely sparing her a glance. Something was wrong. She caught sight of
