Chapter 20

Adrain's POV

The mansion was quieter than usual. I had retreated to our room after a long day—after seeing Isabella work in the garden, after the gala, after the meeting. The weight of the last two days pressed against me like a vise. My body ached, my mind buzzed with calculations, plans, and the ever-present tension that surrounded her.

But now, for once, I allowed myself to breathe.

Her scent lingered in the room—the faint trace of her perfume mixed with something softer, ...