The silence in the mansion was deafening after Adrian left for his office. It was a different kind of quiet—one that pressed against me, reminding me of the emptiness of the place. Without the staff bustling about, without Adrian’s presence looming over me, I was truly alone. And yet, that didn’t bring the relief I thought it would.
I sat on the couch, staring at the grand chandelier hanging above the living room. My body ached from exhaustion, a deep, gnawing tiredness that settled in my bones. The late-night shifts at the bar were already taking their toll, and I barely got enough sleep. The thought of another grueling night made my head throb.
I had spent my entire life in comfort, never having to lift a finger. And now, I was left to fend for myself in a house that wasn’t mine, with
