The sun hung high in the sky, its golden light flooding through the windows of the Hallox mansion. Despite the brilliance of the morning, the house felt cold,cold and suffocating. The clock on the wall chimed faintly, signaling it was already eight in the morning. Liana Hallox ran down the grand staircase, her heart racing. "Damn it, it's already eight!" she whispered under her breath. Her morning had slipped away from her in the blink of an eye.As soon as her feet touched the marble floor at the bottom, an irritating voice echoed through the spacious hallway."Huh! Look who decided to grace us with her presence! The queen has finally woken up from her beauty sleep," Rose Hallox sneered, stepping into Liana's path.Liana froze at the sight of her mother-in-law. Her head dropped instantly, avoiding eye contact. It was easier to endure the daily barrage when she didn't look directly into those sharp, judgmental eyes."My alarm didn't ring, Mother," Liana murmured softly, her voice bar
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