The hum of the sedan's engine had barely faded down the gravel driveway when Travis and Hawk departed to gather their belongings, leaving the estate wrapped in a fragile, temporary quiet.
Upstairs, Jillyanna's bedroom remained firmly locked from the inside. She had retreated into her sanctuary immediately after her explosive confrontation on the porch, skipping her customary late-afternoon tea and light snacks—a ritual she had never once missed, even during her most chaotic business weeks. Inside the quiet room, the heavy drapes were drawn tight against the twilight, plunging the space into a dim, shadow-draped gloom.
Around six in the evening, the crunch of gravel beneath heavy tires signaled the men's return.
