Chapter 3: The Morning After
Sunlight poured through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the guest suite, waking Clara from a deep, dreamless sleep. For a terrifying second, she didn't know where she was. She bolted upright, her heart racing, until her eyes adjusted to the plush white linens and the elegant, minimalist furniture.
She wasn't in the cellar. She wasn't at the estate.
On the armchair next to the bed, Mrs. Gable had left a stack of clean clothes—a soft grey cashmere sweater and a pair of comfortable dark leggings. Clara showered, watching the last of the mud and dried blood wash down the drain, though the dark bruises on her shins and arms remained.
When she finally emerged into the main living area, the comforting aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air. Elias was sitting at the kitchen island, a tablet in one hand and a mug in the other. He had traded his tailored suit for a simple black sweater and jeans, looking less intimidating but just as composed.
"Good morning," Elias said, setting his tablet face down. "How did you sleep?"
"Better than I have in a long time," Clara admitted, her voice raspy.
Elias gestured to the stool across from him. A small, open first-aid kit sat on the counter. "Mrs. Gable made some breakfast, but before you eat, we should clean those scrapes on your legs properly."
Clara sat down, pulling the oversized sweater over her hands. Elias worked with quiet efficiency, applying an antiseptic ointment to her cuts with a gentle touch.
"I'm not going to force you to talk, Clara," Elias said, his eyes focused on his task. "But if I am going to protect you from the men at that estate, I need to know what we are dealing with. Who were they?"
May you like
Clara looked down at her hands. The memory of the cold walls and the auction they had been preparing her for threatened to pull her under. She took a deep, shaky breath, deciding in that moment to trust the man who had pulled her out of the storm.
"They weren't my family," Clara began, her voice steadying with sudden resolve. "They were a syndicate. And last night, they were going to sell me."
