As dawn broke, Ava made her way downstairs, her heels softly clicking against the marble floor. She ate breakfast alone, her movements deliberate and composed, even as her mind churned with tension. Her delicate hands moved gracefully over the silverware, yet she barely tasted the food.

The silence of the dining hall was both a balm and a reminder of the night before, as sleep had eluded her due to the unsettling sounds from Orion and Chloe’s room, their laughter and loud moans seeping through the walls, coiling tight knots of resentment in her stomach.

After a while, Ava pushed her plate aside, setting her napkin down with a calm...