Chapter 552 Holding Onto the Past

In Mandala, winter's chill was not a threat, but Spring Break was just like the movies. On the eve of Spring Break, our villa was buzzing with excitement. Lucas went all out, decorating with vibrant colors and setting up various leisure and entertainment zones throughout the house. Charlotte and Chloe were over the moon, soaking in their first-ever Spring Break extravaganza. The ache in my chest was persistent. It was like I was trying to breathe through a straw. I was not in the mood for festivities, so I ducked out to the second-floor study to find some peace and a good book. I knew the villa like the back of my hand, probably because I had been living there for the better part of a year. I scanned the bookshelf for what felt like ages, but nothing called out to me. I guess I had devoured every book there over the past months, some more than once. With no book catching my eye, I flopped down with a magazine at the desk instead. I was not usually one for desks, unlike Lucas, but I