Our car rolled smoothly through the towering gates of the Creighton estate, a fortress of wealth and power that stretched across the horizon like something out of a fairy tale. Yet, even as the grand halls and ornate archways came into view, my mind was elsewhere—spinning, racing, caught in a whirlwind I couldn't quite control.
Because Arthur was here.
I had missed him more than I thought possible, and now, sitting this close to him, everything else seemed distant. The weight of the day, the pressure of the expectations, the lingering shadows of memories I refused to name—it all felt lighter. Not gone, not forgotten, but somehow bearable.
With Arthur beside me, the world felt easier to hold.
I led him through the estate, my fingers itching to reach for his hand, but I held myself back. Instead, I showed him to his guest room, forcing myself to keep things normal, to keep my voice steady.
