Chapter 12 The Unseen Storm

• The flickering fire in the library cast long, restless shadows on the walls as Sophia sat curled in one of the armchairs, her thoughts circling like vultures over the events of the last few days. The revelation in Adrian’s father’s study had left her feeling closer to him and, at the same time, more cautious. Trust was a fragile thing, and though she saw glimpses of the man he could be, the wounds of his deception still throbbed beneath the surface.
• A knock at the door interrupted her reverie. She looked up to see Lauren standing in the doorway, her ever-efficient demeanor softened by a rare look of hesitation.
• “Mrs. Blackwood,” Lauren began, her voice measured, “I apologize for the interruption, but Mr. Blackwood requested that you join him in his study.”