“Holy Mary, mother of God!” A collective gasp tore through the hall.Gerald froze, his legs trembling beneath him. He swayed, almost collapsing. Anna…? Could it really be her? My Anna… alive? His throat tightened, and a lump of disbelief lodged in his chest. Tears blurred the edges of the world. Every nerve in his body screamed at him: Don’t let her go, don’t let her disappear again.Anna’s lips curved into that soft, radiant smile he knew too well, the one that had haunted his dreams for years. Every memory, every longing, came rushing back in a violent, intoxicating wave. Her voice, that warmth, that familiar gentleness… it was all real. She was alive.Penelope’s heels clattered against the marble as she stumbled, frozen in shock. Her eyes widened like a cornered animal. “No… no… this can’t be,” she whispered, shaking her head violently. “Anna… Anna is dead. She… she can’t have survived that fire!”Anna’s chuckle cut through the room, cool and sharp, carrying a weight of satisfactio
Last Updated : 2025-11-28 Read more