Nadia's Point Of View
The darkness in the guest wing bedroom wasn't just heavy; it suffocated me, pressing against my skin like a living entity. I had personally slammed every window shut, dragged the thick velvet blackout curtains until they overlapped without a sliver of light between them, and locked the double mahogany doors from the inside with trembling hands.
Each action had been deliberate, methodical… a desperate attempt to create a barrier between myself and the world outside.
An hour ago, when a miserable maid had dared to tap on the brass handle, I screamed through the wood, "If another one of you useless idiots knocks on this door with a tea tray, I will personally ensure my brothers cut your severance to zero! Stay away from this entire wing! None of you come near me!" My voice had cracked on the last words, raw with an emotion I refused to name.
