The morning sun filtered through the mansion's tall windows, illuminating the polished stone hallway. The day had just begun, but to Ester, it felt like it had never ended.
She left the room with heavy steps, her body stiff and her eyes red from sleepless nights. Her usually flawless face now bore shadows—subtle marks, but ones that betrayed the insomnia that had been gnawing at her for days.
Every muscle in her body screamed for rest, but her mind remained ablaze. The echoes of last night still vibrated within her.
And then, as if fate mocked her pain, the first person to cross her path was Aria.
The blonde walked down the hallway carrying a silver tray with a jug of wine and fresh fruit. Her face was subtly flushed, her lips slightly swollen, and there was an unmistakable sparkle in her eyes. It was the aura of someone who had been devoured, possessed—and who, even trying to hide it, still carried the remnants of an intense night.
