CHAPTER 28 THE PAIN IS FREQUENT NOW

SABRINA’S POV I dusted the shelves in Jared’s study, my movements automatic and my mind wandering elsewhere. The past few days had been a whirlwind of strategy and maneuvering, and my nerves still buzzed with the excitement of our small victory over Kingston. Yet, amidst all the chaos, a strange quiet had settled in my thoughts, one that seemed to echo with questions I wasn’t ready to answer. I reached the top shelf, my fingers brushing over the spines of a row of books, when something caught my eye — a worn, leather-bound novel tucked away between more pristine volumes. Its faded title intrigued my, and before I realized it, I had pulled it down, flipping open to a random page. The words seemed to leap out at my, pulling my into a different world, a place far removed from the tension that filled the mansion. Minutes ticked by, unnoticed, and my task was forgotten. I sank into a nearby chair, my eyes glued to the page, lost in the story. Hours drifted away, the room around my fading