ELENA'S POINT OF VIEW
I stepped out of the car, watching as he drove away, feeling an ache of loneliness settle in as I approached the mansion. It loomed over me. Too vast, too empty. I could almost hear the silence echoing in the hallways, an unsettling reminder of the turmoil I carried inside.
I wandered through the sprawling rooms, desperately seeking out Alex. I needed his grounding presence, his calm strength to steady my racing heart.
I found him in his study, hunched over his laptop, the tension etched across his brow telling me he was deep in thought. He wore his work clothes, his tie loosened and sleeves rolled up, but it was the way his eyes lit up upon seeing me that chased away some of my unease.
"Hey," I said softly, my voice barely above a whisper.
The moment he registered my expression, concern washed over his face. He stood up and crossed the room in swift strides, enveloping me in a comforting embrace.
