I was telling a story to Cami, who was lying next to me while I was on Daniel's bed. It's been so long since I slept in a bed, and it's incredibly comforting. I feel like jumping on it. Cami was determined to stay in Daniel's room on his bed with me.

After a lot of "No's" and a bit of arguing, Uncle Dan finally gave in to her wishes. Maybe he'll move her to her room once she's asleep, and then I'll have to leave this cozy bed for the couch. For now, he's sitting on the couch with a document in hand, looking very handsome.

Did I just call him handsome? What am I thinking? I know he's good-looking, but...

Stop thinking nonsense, Arianna!

I didn't even notice when sleep overtook me and I drifted into an uneasy slumber.

****Flashback****

“Mommy? What are you doing?” A five-year-old girl stood by the door of the large room, her gaze fixed on her mother who held a silver knife close to her wrist, as if about to harm herself.

Tears welled up in the woman’s eyes as she looked at her daughter. She didn’t want to leave her child alone; she felt trapped and exhausted by her marriage. Although she knew this wasn’t the best choice, it felt like her only option.

Setting the knife on the table, she approached her daughter, crouching to her level. She patted the little girl’s head and hugged her tightly, tears streaming down her face.

“I’m sorry, my angel. I know I shouldn’t do this, but I don’t have any other choice. I can’t endure this any longer. I’ve lost all hope. Please forgive me. I hope you never lose hope like I did. Remember always, your mommy loves you no matter what,” she said with deep sorrow, embracing and kissing her daughter’s forehead.

As she prepared to leave everything behind—pain, sorrow, betrayal, and even the few good memories—the only thing she regretted was leaving her daughter.

With a heavy heart, she stood up, took the knife from the table, and held it to her wrist.

“I’m sorry. I love you, my child,” were her final words before she cut her wrist, her body collapsing to the ground with a thud.

“Mommy?” The little girl called out, unaware of the tragedy that had just occurred.

The little girl approached her mother, her small feet stepping into the red pool of blood surrounding the woman’s body.

“Mommy, get up. The floor is dirty,” she said, shaking her mother, but there was no response. Her mother’s eyes were wide open, and she lay still on the cold floor. The girl instinctively picked up the knife her mother had used, gripping the handle with her tiny hands.

Just then, the girl’s father burst into the room, shouting at his daughter.

“What did you do?! How could you—” He saw the slit in his wife’s wrist and immediately understood what had happened. While he knew why his wife had taken her life, he couldn’t afford any scandal affecting his name. His gaze shifted to his daughter, holding the knife, and a sinister smile briefly crossed his face before he feigned shock.

“You killed your mother!” he roared, gripping his daughter’s shoulder roughly, causing her to cry out in pain.

“You worthless child. How dare you! You’re going to pay for this!” he shouted, hitting her across the face and making her cry even louder.

“Don’t hit me, Daddy. I didn’t do anything,” she sobbed as he continued to assault her.

****End of Flashback****

Daniel's Perspective

The voice of slow snores made me look towards the bed. Arianna's arms were spooned around Cami as they both looked like they were in deep slumber.

I shook my head in dismay. Now, I have an added work of waking Arianna up so that she can sleep on the couch.

Placing the wrecked documents on the couch, I headed towards them. Once I was in front of the bed, I stared a while at Arianna and Cami who looked sound asleep.

I don't understand why Cami is so fond of Ariana. Cami always roams around her which is getting a little annoying. But I don't mind it until and unless Arianna isn't a threat.

I'll make Cami sleep in her room first. Then, I'll wake Arianna up.

Deciding on that, I gently unwrapped Arianna's arm from Cami which made her stir a little making me freeze, holding her hand in mid-air. Arianna shook her head like a little cat in her sleep which almost made me smile. Almost.

After managing to get Cami out of Arianna’s embrace, I carried her to her room, placed her gently on her bed, and tucked her in with the duvet before leaving and returning to my own room.

I closed the door behind me and walked towards Arianna, intending to wake her up. As I reached out to shake her, I noticed a stray tear falling from her eye onto the linen sheet. I paused, watching her.

Arianna was different from most women. She was quiet, kept to herself, and always complied without objection. Though she often smiled, her eyes betrayed a deeper, unsettling emotion. To me, she seemed peculiar.

Unlike other women I’ve known, who would assert themselves and refuse what they didn’t want, Arianna always agreed silently, even when she didn’t want to. I had expected her to run from the marriage, but she stayed.

Why are you so strange, Arianna?

I sat on the bed beside her, gazing at her face as if it might reveal the answer. A stray strand of her chestnut hair had fallen across her face. I found myself moving closer and brushing the hair away, tucking it behind her ear.

Upon closer inspection, Arianna was truly beautiful. What am I doing? What’s wrong with me? I should just wake her up and tell her to sleep on the couch.

Suddenly, she murmured in her sleep, “Don’t hit me, Daddy. I didn’t do anything,” as tears streamed down her face.

What?

“Don’t hit me. Please. It hurts,” she said louder, her tears flowing uncontrollably. “I didn’t do anything.”

What is going on?

“Arianna,” I shook her gently, causing her to open her eyes abruptly, breathing heavily. The sorrow in her gaze was palpable, and I felt an overwhelming sense of familiarity.

“Are you oka—”

Before I could finish, she unexpectedly hugged me, cutting me off.