Chapter 81

Flora's POV

The villa was far too quiet. The silence pressed down on me like a suffocating blanket, broken only by the rhythmic tick of the antique clock that stood in the corner. Each tick reminded me of Nicolas's absence, each second louder than the last, hammering into my skull.

I paced the length of the living room, silk slippers brushing against the marble floors. My nails dug into my palms as I muttered to myself, replaying every word Nicolas had spoken to me two days ...