THE EMPIRE SHE BUILT
Was it because…
Wasn’t she enough anymore?
The thought lingered, heavy and unwelcome. By the time she reached home, the silence greeted her first, cold, still, and Empty.
She stepped inside slowly. The candles were still burning faintly. The steak had gone cold. The wine sat untouched. Everything remained exactly as she had left it, but something about it now felt different.
At the hotel, she had been composed, controlled, and untouchable, but here…
She just looked tired, quiet, and worn down. Aurelia walked to the table and sat. For a moment, she simply stared. Then she reached forward and relit the candles. Soft light flickered across her face. She closed her eyes and made a wish.
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