“Evie!!!”

I groaned, using the pillow to cover my ears.

Fucking hell.

I’d forgotten how living with my mum actually was. No peace, no quiet, and absolutely no sleeping in.

“Evelyn!” she called again, her voice sharp and demanding. “If you don’t get up right now, I swear I’ll—”

“Fine!” I shouted back, my voice muffled by the pillow. “I’m up!”

Dragging myself out of bed, I shuffled toward the living room, still half-asleep. The sound of maids bustling around greeted me before I even got there, the clinking of glasses and soft chatter filling the air.

When I entered the dining room, my mother was sitting at the dining...