Chapter Thirty-Five
It wasn’t until I stepped into the grand, marble-tiled foyer of Stefan’s mansion that the weight of it all truly hit me. Every inch of this place screamed power, control, and wealth. The crisp, cold air inside did nothing to calm the rush of emotions bubbling within me. The house itself felt like an extension of Stefan—impersonal, immovable, and overwhelming. Yet, I had no choice but to walk through it, step after step, as if this was the life I had to accept now.
“You’ve been quiet all night,” Stefan’s voice broke through my thoughts. He was leaning against the doorway, his expression unreadable as always. But his eyes, sharp and calculating, always seemed to study me, like he was analyzing every little movement, every subtle twitch.
“I’m not in the mood for small talk,” I muttered, looking away from him. The events of the day had left me exhausted, physically and mentally. Adrian’s constant barrage of texts and calls, Stephanie’s betrayal still gnawing at my insi
