As for that hastily arranged engagement, Serena had assumed the other party would call it off after everything that happened. But no cancellation ever came. Instead, she received a simple message.
Adrian: Are you alright?
Serena stared at the words for a long moment before typing back slowly.
Serena: Mm. Regretting it already?
The reply came almost immediately.
Adrian: Just checking on you. I know what happened. I'll handle the public narrative.
He asked no questions and offered no comfort. He gave her only one calm, steady assurance: I'll handle it.
Serena did not respond. She locked her phone and leaned against the cold wall.
Outside, night swallowed the last trace of daylight. And in her world, the lamp that had burned for twenty years had finally gone out.
A few days later, bo
