In the evening, Zander visited Flora in the guest room. She looked empty, her eyes swollen and bloodshot from hours of crying. She sat huddled in the center of the bed, looking small and fragile amidst the warm duvet.
"Hey, why are you like this?" Zander asked softly, taking a seat at the edge of the mattress. He waited for her to look at him, but she remained motionless, staring at nothing.
"Flora, say something."
She simply shook her head, her voice a mere ghost of a sound. "I want to be alone," she murmured.
Zander studied her for a moment, seeing the sheer exhaustion in her posture. Recognizing that Alex had completely shattered her peace of mind, he decided that giving her space was the only kindness he could offer. He stepped out of the room, recalling the threats Alex had given to Flora.
