Chapter 7

• Marie made her way down the grand staircase, its ornate gold banister gleaming dully in the dim light. The curved stairway was a work of art, its intricate design a testament to the mansion's opulence but Marie hardly noticed its beauty as she clutched the box of her belongings to her chest, the papers that spelled the end of her marriage a heavy weight in her hand.
• The house, once full of light and laughter, now felt cold and unwelcoming. The rich textures and glimmering surfaces appeared to taunt her as she cruised them by.
• As she arrived at the lower part of the flight of stairs, she froze in her tracks, her look attracted to the figure sitting in the front room.