Mag-log inThe morning was beautiful.I stood at the window, watching the sun rise. The garden was green and alive. The roses were blooming, their petals soft and fragrant in the early light. The air smelled of flowers and new beginnings, of earth and hope. The world outside was waking up, just like I was.Rex walked to me, his footsteps soft on the wooden floor. The boards creaked beneath his weight, a familiar sound that had become my comfort. His hand found my waist, warm and solid through the thin fabric of my dress."You're up early."I leaned into him, feeling the strength of his body against mine. "I couldn't sleep."He kissed my temple, his lips lingering. "What were you thinking about?"I turned to face him, my hands resting on his chest. I could feel his heartbeat beneath my palms, steady and strong. "About how we started. About how we ended up here."He pulled me close, his arms strong around me. "We started as enemies."I smiled. "And now?"He touched my face. "Now we're perfect."We
The morning was warm.I stood at the window, watching the sun rise. The garden was green and alive. The roses were blooming, their petals soft and fragrant in the early light. The air smelled of flowers and new beginnings, of earth and hope. The world outside was waking up, just like I was.Rex walked to me, his footsteps soft on the wooden floor. The boards creaked beneath his weight, a familiar sound that had become my comfort. His hand found my waist, warm and solid through the thin fabric of my dress."You're up early."I leaned into him, feeling the strength of his body against mine. "I couldn't sleep."He kissed my temple, his lips lingering. "What were you thinking about?"I turned to face him, my hands resting on his chest. I could feel his heartbeat beneath my palms, steady and strong. "About being chosen. About what it means."He pulled me close, his arms strong around me. "What does it mean?"I looked at him. "It means I'm not a mistake."He touched my face, his thumb brush
The morning was golden.I stood at the window, watching the sun rise. The garden was green and alive. The roses were blooming, their petals soft and fragrant in the early light. The air smelled of flowers and new beginnings, of earth and hope. The world outside was waking up, just like I was.Rex walked to me, his footsteps soft on the wooden floor. The boards creaked beneath his weight, a familiar sound that had become my comfort. His hand found my waist, warm and solid through the thin fabric of my dress."You're up early."I leaned into him, feeling the strength of his body against mine. "I couldn't sleep."He kissed my temple, his lips lingering. "What were you thinking about?"I turned to face him, my hands resting on his chest. I could feel his heartbeat beneath my palms, steady and strong. "About freedom. About what it means."He pulled me close, his arms strong around me. "What does it mean?"I looked at him. "It means I'm not trapped anymore."He touched my face, his thumb br
The morning was bright.I stood at the window, watching the sun rise. The garden was green and alive. The roses were blooming, their petals soft and fragrant in the early light. The air smelled of flowers and new beginnings, of earth and hope. The world outside was waking up, just like I was.Rex walked to me, his footsteps soft on the wooden floor. The boards creaked beneath his weight, a familiar sound that had become my comfort. His hand found my waist, warm and solid through the thin fabric of my dress."You're up early."I leaned into him, feeling the strength of his body against mine. "I couldn't sleep."He kissed my temple, his lips lingering. "What were you thinking about?"I turned to face him, my hands resting on his chest. I could feel his heartbeat beneath my palms, steady and strong. "About the contract. About what it meant."He pulled me close, his arms strong around me. "It meant nothing."I looked at him. "It meant everything. It was the beginning."He touched my face,
The morning was quiet.I stood at the window, watching the sun rise. The garden was green and alive. The roses were blooming, their petals soft and fragrant in the early light. The air smelled of flowers and new beginnings, of earth and hope. The world outside was waking up, just like I was.Rex walked to me, his footsteps soft on the wooden floor. The boards creaked beneath his weight, a familiar sound that had become my comfort. His hand found my waist, warm and solid through the thin fabric of my dress."You're up early."I leaned into him, feeling the strength of his body against mine. "I couldn't sleep."He kissed my temple, his lips lingering. "What were you thinking about?"I turned to face him, my hands resting on his chest. I could feel his heartbeat beneath my palms, steady and strong. "About revenge. About how it brought us here."He pulled me close, his arms strong around me. "Revenge brought me to you."I looked at him. "It brought us together."He nodded. "Yes. It did."
The morning was soft.I stood at the window, watching the sun rise. The garden was green and alive. The roses were blooming, their petals soft and fragrant in the early light. The air smelled of flowers and new beginnings, of earth and hope. The world outside was waking up, just like I was.Rex walked to me, his footsteps soft on the wooden floor. The boards creaked beneath his weight, a familiar sound that had become my comfort. His hand found my waist, warm and solid through the thin fabric of my dress."You're up early."I leaned into him, feeling the strength of his body against mine. "I couldn't sleep."He kissed my temple, his lips lingering. "What were you thinking about?"I turned to face him, my hands resting on his chest. I could feel his heartbeat beneath my palms, steady and strong. "About the beginning. About how I was the wrong bride."He pulled me close, his arms strong around me. "You were never the wrong bride."I looked at him. "I signed Isabella's name. I wore her d
I ran.The hallway blurred past me. The stairs. The front door. The cold night air hit my face. I did not stop. I could not stop. If I stopped, I would have to think. And if I thought, I would have to feel.And I did not want to feel anything.The garden was dark. The roses were invisible. I walked
Mrs. Park's room was smaller than I expected.A single bed. A crucifix on the wall. A photograph of a young girl on the nightstand. The same photograph I had seen before. Her daughter. The one my mother supposedly saved."Sit down," she said."I would rather stand."She closed the door. Leaned agai
The house felt different after midnight.I had been sitting in the dark for hours. The bedroom was empty. Rex was somewhere else – his study, probably, staring at maps and photographs and evidence I was not allowed to see. The rain had stopped. The world was quiet.Too quiet.My burner phone buzzed
Isabella stood in the doorway. Shaking. Her perfect hair was messy. Her dress was wrinkled. She looked like someone who had just seen a ghost.Or a corpse.Rex was already moving. Gun in hand. He grabbed my wrist. Pulled me off the bed.Stay behind me, he said.I did not argue. I grabbed my dress f







