Arabella slipped into a silk nightgown and sat at her vanity, tending to her skin. Her fingers moved mechanically, but her mind drifted elsewhere.
She thought about her parents. Now that her life seemed to be settling into a new chapter, their absence felt heavier than ever. They had already given their consent to everything, but guilt still gnawed at her. She should have called them.
Her behavior over the past weeks felt wrong, selfish even. She needed to go home, to confront the chaos she had left behind: her father, her mother, and the fragile new relationship they were trying to forge. She needed to face it all and find peace with it.
Her thoughts shifted back to the present. She was still grappling with the reality of being part of the Williams family—something she had never dared to dream of. Yet, here she was, living in their world.
It was overwhelming. Adjusting to their lifestyle wasn’t going to be easy. Fame was a heavy cloak to wear. Everywhere she went, people stared. The
