Serena's POV

I slammed the guest room door behind me, unable to stop my hands from trembling as I fought back the tears that threatened to spill down my cheeks. Each breath I took sent pain shooting through my chest—not from any physical ailment, but from the emotional wound Mom had just torn open again.

The cool night air drifted through the hallway from nearby open windows, but I couldn't feel its relief. Instead, I felt suffocated, like the walls of this massive mansion were slowly ...