Annabel’s pov
I stood alone in the dimly lit kitchen, the soft hum of the refrigerator the only companion to my swirling thoughts. The clock on the wall ticked away the seconds, each one a reminder of the night's quiet solitude. It was just another evening, uneventful and ordinary, or so I thought until the rhythmic sound of footsteps echoed through the hallway.
Thomas entered the room, his presence casting a subtle warmth that defied the chill outside. He was a portrait of quiet strength, the flickering candlelight dancing on his features. I could sense an unspoken tension, an invisible thread connecting us, drawing me closer in a way that transcended mere proximity.
"Couldn't sleep?" he asked, a trace of concern in his voice as he leaned against the counter.
I shook my head, the weig
