CHAPTER 28

I walked into the kitchen and opened the fridge, taking out a small container of chocolate ice cream. Today was hot outside, but cool indoors since the AC was on. The sweet, rich aroma of the ice cream filled my nose as I grabbed a spoon and made my way outside. The sunlight reflected off the pool's surface, shimmering like a bed of crushed diamonds. I dipped my feet into the water, letting its coolness contrast against the heat radiating from my skin.

As I took my first spoonful of ice cream, my mind wandered to Heinrich. He had been quiet lately—too quiet. He didn’t talk to me unless he was asking about something trivial, like if I had seen his watch or whether I had touched something in his study. It wasn’t just that he was distant; it was the way he carried himself around me, like I was some unwelcome presence he was forced to endure. It was grating my nerves, more than I cared to admit.