Chapter 29: Strength in the Shadows

**Thelma Zane’s Perspective** A month had passed, though it hardly felt that way. Time seemed to blur when every day was filled with thrilling new experiences. My life had transformed into an endless adventure, like stepping into a wondrous rabbit hole where something new awaited me at every turn. I thrived on that excitement, second only to the joy I felt spending time with Aldrich. Being with Aldrich was always a delightful experience. He had a knack for making me laugh with his sharp wit and an uncanny ability to share peculiar yet fascinating trivia. Our conversations never ran dry, though there was one subject he avoided: the woman he once loved. Anytime I brought it up, he would sidestep the topic, leaving me to assume that the memory was still a painful one for him. In contrast, I had moved on from the sting of Benard’s rejection. There was no denying that his cruel words still echoed in my mind during the quiet hours of the night, but they no longer held the power to b