Chapter 116

• I surveyed my new room, taking in its details with a mix of awe and detachment. The wooden boards framed a massive, wall-sized window directly in front of me, leading out to a quaint balcony. Sunlight poured in generously, bathing the dark wooden floors in a warm glow. The raw, white walls stood in striking contrast to the deep brown flooring, creating a perfect harmony with the furniture’s skeletal frames, wrapped in light cream leather. But the centerpiece of the room—the one that demanded my attention—was the bed.
• Its grand ebony frame stretched all the way to the ceiling, adorned with a cream-white canopy that cascaded down in soft, silken layers. Beneath the delicate fabric lay a plush quilt and an array of down pillows, inviting and luxurious. The whole scene radiated an air of intimacy and indulgence, a perfect balance of comfort and allure. Just the sight of it stirred something within me, a fleeting flicker of desire, quickly swallowed by a deeper ache.
• My chest tightened again.