Page 120 of Bound By Crimson

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She heard it.

A door opening down the hall.

Soft. Subtle. Then closing just as quietly.

She sat up, heart in her throat. Kai. He must’ve come home early.

Throwing on her housecoat, she slipped into the hallway, padding barefoot down the hall. Her breath caught when she reached his door.

Locked.

She pressed her ear gently against the wood.

Silence.

She knocked once. Then whispered, “Kai?”

No answer.

Nothing.

She stood there for a long moment, unease wrapping around her like a second robe.

Eventually, she backed away and returned to her room, the whispering wind outside echoing in her ears. Her thoughts tangled into thorns, snagging and tightening with every breath.

Was she imagining things? Was it someone else? A maid? A draft?

She barely slept.

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By morning, her exhaustion felt deeper, heavier. Her body ached, but today—Kai was coming home. That was enough to pull her upright.

She dressed slowly, eyes stinging, and before heading to breakfast, she detoured back to Kai’s room.

The door was unlocked now.

She hesitated, then pushed it open.

The room was untouched. The bed perfectly made. No bags. No scent of him in the air. He hadn’t been here.

Her heart sank. Whoever she heard last night—it wasn’t him.

Still, she went down for breakfast, forcing composure.

Mrs. Thornwick was already seated, hands delicately resting on her teacup.

“Ah, good. You’re up,” she said. “He’ll be home today.”

Lyric smiled faintly. “Yes. I can’t wait to see him.”

Mrs. Thornwick didn’t meet her gaze. Instead, she stirred her tea slowly and said, “My baby’s coming back to me.”

Her stomach twisted sharply.

Not coming back to us. Not even back to Lyric. Back to her. Like Lyric didn’t exist at all.

She said nothing. Just nodded and picked at her toast.

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