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40. Oddly Quiet

last update Last Updated: 2025-05-17 11:50:18

Cali’s pov.

I wake up to the quiet ticking of the clock.

Unlike the usual style of my newly adapted morning routine—there is no one pounding down my door, no screaming—nothing but eerie silence.

For a second, I forget where I am. Then I open my eyes and remember everything.

A knock comes before I can even sit up, then the door eases open.

One of the younger maids enters, looking nervous. She’s carrying a tray that smells too damn good to be real—fluffy croissants, a tower of berries, a tall glass of orange juice, scrambled eggs sprinkled with herbs.

She sets the tray down on the table near the window and straightens with that same skittish energy majority of the staff seem to carry when I’m around.

“Mr. Holt said you can rest as long as you want today,” she announces in a low, shy voice.

I blink at her. “Come again?” I don’t ask this because I didn’t hear her. I need her to repeat it, just to make sure I wasn’t going mad.

She doesn’t repeat herself. Just dips her head like she’s afrai
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