ANASTASIA'S POV The scent of sterile linen and industrial lemon cleaner did nothing to mask the suffocating weight inside the hotel room. The curtains were drawn tight against the lights outside, casting everything in muted shadows, save for the dull glow of a bedside lamp. We had fled, leaving behind the suffocating walls of the house, but the ache in my chest proved that I couldn't outrun reality. I sat on the edge of the queen-sized bed, watching my mother. For as long as I could remember, Vivienne was the picture of composure, graceful, calculated, and unyielding. Even when the world shook beneath our feet, her spine remained straight, her gaze steady. But now, standing by the small wooden dresser with her coat still clutched in her hands, she looked shattered. Her knuckles were white, her shoulders trembling under the faint hum of the air conditioner. When she finally turned to look at me, the facade dissolved entirely.
Última actualización : 2026-10-11 Leer más