CHAPTER 40 OUR LITTLE SECRET

It wasn't a dream this time, it was reality... He was awake this time not in Catherine custody but at his very own home. "I'm fine," Michael replied, his voice hoarse and tired as he struggled to sit up in the bed, his body still sore from the events of the previous night. "The storm," he murmured, his eyes straying to the window as he remembered the raging tempest that had haunted his dreams. The guard nodded, his gaze sympathetic as he regarded Michael. "It was a bad one," he said, his voice tinged with empathy as he reached for a glass of water, offering it to Michael with a steady hand. Michael took the glass of water gratefully, his fingers trembling slightly as he brought the cool liquid to his lips, the relief of the moisture soothing his dry throat. "How did I get here?" he asked, his mind still foggy with sleep and confusion as he looked around the room, the memories of the night before still hazy and unclear. The guard looked at him, his expression serious and profess