**Gabrielle's POV**
Is this what freedom feels like?
It's my third day in this mansion, and I've been doing the same thing over and over—waking up, bathing, eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner alone, strolling through the city, and then returning to an empty house.
It's as if I'm not even married. In three whole days, I haven't seen Lucien or even heard a word about him from the maids. They act like it's perfectly normal.
"Penny, when will Lucien be back?" I asked for what felt like the millionth time.
"I already told you, my lady," Penny replied with that same casual tone. "Lord Lucien is not coming back anytime soon."
My stomach churned. Why did he leave without saying anything? Without telling anyone? Yet, even in his absence, I loved my stay here—the freedom and the ability to do whatever I wanted. Still, there was that ache in my chest every time I thought of Lucien.
I rose from the dinner table and turned to Penny.
"Take me to his room."
