Chapter 197

In the kitchen, Elyana stood by the sink, her fingers tapping the counter in irritation. Her heart was still pounding from the shock. “What was he doing there?” she muttered under her breath. “Don’t tell me he actually slept on the floor the whole night…” She glanced at the stairway, then back at the empty counter. “He’s still wearing the same clothes,” she mumbled. Her fingers curled into a fist. “Hah,” she exhaled, patting the side of her head in frustration. “Why do I even care? Let him freeze. Let him rot out there.” Shaking her head, she poured herself a glass of lukewarm water and took a slow sip to calm her nerves. After a moment, she brewed some coffee more out of habit than need and carried the warm cup out into the garden. The morning air was crisp and fresh, brushing against her skin like a forgotten memory. It was quiet. Peaceful. The kind of quiet that made her chest ache. She looked around. The garden hadn’t changed much. The flowers still bloomed in soft hues of red, pur