As soon as Isabelle stepped into the kitchen, she shut the door behind her and leaned against it, breathing heavily.
She instinctively raised a hand to touch her face, finding her fingers cold and stiff. The sweat on her palms seemed to evaporate instantly against the heat radiating from her cheeks.
She could feel her heart pounding wildly in her chest, as if it might burst out at any moment. If she hadn't escaped to the kitchen, she doubted she would have been able to calm down.
Placing a hand over her chest, Isabelle gently patted herself, trying to soothe her nerves. Gradually, the tension eased, and strength returned to her legs. She slowly walked over to the pot of soup simmering on the stove.
The mushroom soup was nearly dried out, bubbling at the bottom of the pot. She q
