CHAPTER THIRTEEN
I slip into Ford's private chambers, the heavy door creaking slightly behind me as it swings closed. The room is dimly lit by the fading sunlight that filters through the thick curtains, casting long shadows across the floor. My heart pounds in my chest, a rhythmic drumbeat that echoes in my ears. I shouldn't be here, but I can't shake the feeling that whatever Ford is hiding from me, it's crucial to understanding the distance between us.
The chamber is distinctly him—organized chaos. His scent lingers in the air, a mix of pine needles and fresh earth that's intrinsically Ford. Books are stacked on shelves and papers litter his desk, covered in notes written in his careful, deliberate hand. I move towards them, curiosity driving me forward. My fingers brush against the p
