The day went by unusually quiet. Anna had spent most of it in her room after instructing Kira to clean the entire mansion from corner to corner.
'That's nothing compared to what she tried to do,' she thought with a smug tilt of her lips. Still, it was enough for now—a warning not to cross her again.
But as evening came and the clock ticked past Daniel's usual return, her heartbeat grew restless.
She told herself it was relief. Yet the thought of him not appearing tonight unsettled her in ways she refused to admit. Daniel had been far too persistent lately, weaving lies with that infuriating calmness, and nearly making her believe them.
Dinner passed. Silence lingered. Finally, Anna slipped into bed, eager to end the exhausting day without dealing with Daniel's overbearing presence.
