Fiona’s POV

The room felt too quiet after he left. Too still. As if his absence carried a weight heavier than his presence ever had—but that wasn’t true.

I sat there for a full minute without moving, staring at his portrait a little too deeply, still hoping he’d come back. I had already prepared myself—I was ready to break every rule if only he’d stepped back in.

But nothing came.

The silence pressed against my chest, and the only sound was the soft ticking of the wall clock, ...