Sophia woke up to a pounding headache, a sharp reminder of the excessive alcohol she had consumed the previous night.

Even an elephant would have struggled under the weight of such indulgence. Strangely, the relentless throbbing served as a welcome distraction from the blurry memories of the evening before.

She had not forgotten everything, but she deliberately chose not to bring those fragmented recollections into focus.

After a quick shower, she made her way downstairs, briefly wondering why she had risen so early. Any regret over the early hour vanished the moment her stomach rumbled loudly, demanding attention.

She needed food—plenty of it—even if her appetite was nearly nonexistent. Was...