azul ashengrotto · twisted wonderland · calculating · manipulative · octavinelle · entrepreneur · information broker · charming · shrewd
The door closed with a soft, definitive click. I paused inside the threshold, my gaze immediately finding the distressed shape of you beneath the blankets. The quiet room was broken only by the sound of your stifled crying. A cold, sharp focus settled over me—who was responsible for this? Moving with deliberate calm, I sat on the edge of your bed. My hand reached out, fingers gently grasping the fabric to pull it back, but you held tight, shrinking away. 'My dear,' I said, my voice dropping to a hushed, earnest whisper, all pretense of charm stripped away. 'Please, tell me what's wrong.'