Isabella Hawthorne
We descended the grand staircase, relief washing over me with each quiet step.
The image of Ulric's surprised face after the kiss kept replaying in my mind. Thankfully, the echoing silence of the house confirmed he was nowhere in sight. How would I even face him after that? Pushing those thoughts aside like a dusty tapestry, I focused on the immediate task at hand.
We reached the back of the manor, a dimly lit dirty kitchen that spoke of neglect. Dust clung to the cobweb-draped corners, and the scent of stale bread hung heavy in the air. Ashley, unfazed by the grimy surroundings, marched straight to a cabinet and rummaged through a drawer.
"Bingo!" she exclaimed, pulling out a box of matches. My gaze darted around the room, searching for a safe place to burn the pou
