Chapter 28

ELISE'S POV

One hot afternoon, I crouched down by a flower bed in the garden, cleaning up the mess.

I had been given specific instructions by Gina to do this. Each movement I made had me in pain. The past few days been hectic for me, and I was exhausted.

I had been working from dawn till dusk, doing chores that left me drained and numb. Gina was ruthless when it came to sending errands. As I bent down to gather the leaves into a pile, a familiar voice called out my name.

“Elise!” I looked up, and there he was—Ferris.

At the sight of him, I gasped. I had never been so happy to see someone in my life.

Looking at him felt like a breath of fresh air. Despite everything, seeing him made me feel hopeful. His presence was a reminder that there was still someone who cared about me.

“Ferris,” I whispered. With a huge smile on my face, I started to walk towards him. But before I could reach him, two guards blocked my path. They grabbed my arms.

“No!” I protested, trying to break free. “