Chapter 58

• I had convinced myself that returning to work would help me cope. My reasoning was straightforward: avoid places that held traces of Hadrian’s presence. The thought of immersing myself in the world of numbers and legal jargon brought a flicker of excitement—an escape, however fleeting, from the gnawing ache buried deep in my heart and mind. Against Freya’s advice, I decided to head to the bank’s headquarters after breakfast. Anything to distance myself from the oppressive weight of the castle walls.
• That resolve lasted until I crossed the threshold of the building.
• The moment I stepped inside, the air seemed to shift. My head spun, and a tremor coursed through my body. In an instant, the haunting images of the attack surged to the forefront of my mind, vivid and unrelenting. My breathing quickened, syncing with the erratic pounding of my heart. A high-pitched whine pierced my ears, forcing me to clamp my hands over them in a futile attempt to block it out.