Chapter 115 Samantha

• SAMANTHA
• By morning, I’m no more rested than I was the night before. The sheets are soft, the room warm, but comfort doesn’t reach me. Every sound in the hallway — a knock, a whisper, footsteps, makes me tense, wondering if someone has changed their mind about letting me stay here. When the maid returns to fetch me for breakfast, I dress quickly, my small bag still packed and ready beside the bed, just in case I need to run again.
• The dining room feels far too big for three people. A long polished table stretches across the room, glowing in the morning light. Every plate, cup, and piece of silverware shines like it’s been placed for a photograph. Clever Naya Rancho, Aria’s mother, sits at the far end, straight-backed and poised. She’s already dressed in a dark green blouse and pearl earrings, every inch of her looking controlled and flawless. Her expression is calm, but her sharp eyes follow my every move.