CH.140

The sun was high in the cloudless blue sky, casting its unforgiving rays on the sprawling estate that stretched as far as the eye could see.

Serena found herself in a state of utter exhaustion. Her body had been pushed to its limits by the unexpected rigors of what she had naively assumed would be a simple stroll.

She squatted down, her hands gripping her knees intensely as she struggled to catch her breath.

Each inhalation felt like fire in her lungs, reminding her of just how unprepared she had been for the sheer scale of the estate grounds.

Sweat beaded on her brow, trickling down her temples and leaving salty trails on her flushed cheeks.

Her once-clean outfit now clung to her body, damp with perspiration and sprinkled with dust from their lengthy trek.

A diverse crowd of others surrounded her, observing her condition with differing degrees of amusement and concern.

Lara, the maid personally assigned by Meredith to attend to Serena's every whim, stood nearby. Her neat uniform