Elena’s POV

The master bedroom felt too large, too bright, and far too suffocating, as though the air itself had been thickened by something invisible, pressing quietly against my chest with every breath I took.

On the bed, two opened boxes lay side by side, each holding a nightgown that seemed deliberately chosen to contrast the other—one soft and delicate with a gentle, almost innocent charm, while the other carried a subtle allure, its design restrained yet suggestive, leaving just ...