Hannah's POV

　　After seeing Christian off, I closed the door behind him and leaned against it for a moment, letting out a long breath. The evening had been unexpectedly comforting, a much-needed distraction from the turmoil brewing inside me. Christian's kindness had soothed some of my tensions, but as I looked around the empty house, the familiar loneliness crept back in.

　　I began tidying up, trying to keep my mind occupied. The silence was almost oppressive, ...