Sophie paused in the doorway of her luxury apartment, her fingers brushing against the cool frame as if the solid touch might steady her. For a fleeting moment, she let herself drift into memory. Gray Cabin rose in her mind, that elegant estate with its ancient trees standing tall like guardians of tradition, the sprawling gardens always kept in flawless order, and the grandeur of everything that had once felt within her reach. It should have been hers permanently. The very idea of it had fueled her ambitions, her determination, her sacrifices. Yet now, no matter how tightly she clung to that vision, she could feel it slipping through her fingers like sand pouring through a sieve.
A familiar voice in the hallway jarred her from the thought. Her stomach twisted with dread. Not now. Not today. She prayed silently that her ears had deceived her. But when she leaned closer and checked through the peephole, her worst fears solidified.
