Chapter 014

The tension in the mansion had become almost unbearable. Every day felt like an endless battle to navigate the churning waters of Sky’s family, each interaction leaving me more exhausted than the last. It was as if I were a ship adrift in a storm, with no clear destination in sight.

Today, the storm reached a new intensity. I had overheard Selene speaking to her mother in hushed, angry tones, and the contents of their conversation had left me on edge. The word “confrontation” kept repeating in my mind like a dark mantra. I knew it was only a matter of time before something had to give.

My opportunity for a confrontation came sooner than expected. I was alone in the library, trying to lose myself in a book as a means of escaping the oppressive atmosphere, when Sky entered. His face was set in grim lines, his eyes stormy. He looked like he had something to say, and I knew it wasn’t going to be easy.

“Hayley,” he said, his voice low but urgent, “we need to talk.”

I closed the book and lo