Chapter 61

Soft breaths escaped her in an even rhythm. Her sleeping form was angelic. It made him frown as he blamed himself for taking away her peace for the past few days. But Thomas was helpless. He ran his fingers gently through Cecilia's curls. Her skin felt like it was glowing. He smiled as she nuzzled into his hand. He wouldn't hurt her again. Ever.

Three knocks later, Sophia hesitantly opened the door, hair dishelved from her sleep. Her eyes widened slightly at the sight in front of the door.

"Shouldn't you be in bed?"

"I have something to discuss." Carina's voice came out hoarse and small. Was her daughter crying? Sophia's brows scrunched in worry. The pair made their way inside the chamber in silence.

"I haven't seen you knock on my door since you were Seven", Sophia tried to lighten the mood. Relieved that her daughter was changing her ways.

Carina remained silent, her hands perched on her lap. The tips of her fingers felt cold. It wasn't even winter...

"I have made a mistake. A grave mistake."

Sophia let out a heavy sigh at the confession, shoulders slumping. She must've gotten herself into even more trouble.

"Tell the whole story."

When she managed to finish, it was already near dawn. All sleep was gone from Sophia's eyes. And she feared it wouldn't come back in a while. Not after what she had heard.

"How could you do this without asking?! Do you understand what you have done?!"

"Calm down. You don't want the whole mansion to eavesdrop."

Sophia was surprised at how calm Carina sounded. What had gotten into her? Why would she even do something like that? The hollowness in her daughter's eyes made the gears in Sophia's head turn.

"But why Carina? Why do you want to go away?"

The sharp intake of breath didn't go unnoticed by her mother.

"Because it's painful. And I'm weak."

"Did Thomas do something to hurt you?"

Carina's feet had gotten cold at that point.

"No. It wasn't him. He was just trying to protect his wife. It was me. I hurt myself, mother."

"That doesn't explain why you want to move away to a desolated ... "

"I guess in that moment, I realised how unhappy I was. And I thought if I went away, things would become easier."

"That's not how it works. You know that very well."

Carina gave an apologetic smile.

"I just wanted a happy life with the man I love."

The weight of the words cut through the dead of the night like sharpened knives. Sophia's eyes softened. Her daughter had been suffering ever since her father's demise. Now she was widowed, just like her. With no love, no power.

"Then I realised something."

A different look took over Carina's features. An oddly familiar look.

"If I can't have love, I can at least try to have power."

Sophia's eyes widened.

"But how?"

"I have an admirer or two I can count on."

A wave of hope bubbled in Sophia's heart.

"You may have gotten your father's visuals, but it seems you have my brain."

They both chuckled for the first time in years. Together.