Chapter 213: A Sip of Truth
River:
The door shut behind me with a soft thud as I entered my room, sealing me off from the rest of the world...or at least for tonight.
My limbs were aching and my neck was stiff from sitting through endless meetings at the company. Too many numbers. Too many people. Too many damn eyes watching me, waiting for a single crack in the image I had spent years perfecting.
Without turning on the main lights, I made my way to the bathroom, tugging off my tie and tossing it somewhere near the chair. My clothes were gone in no time. The shower hissed to life, its warm spray fogging up the glass. I stepped under it, letting the water beat against my skin, hotter than it probably should have been. But I welcomed the sting. It cut through the stiffness in my muscles and the deeper, darker tension buried beneath my skin.
I stayed there longer than usual. Long enough for the steam to fog up the mirror and drip down the tiles like sweat. But eventually, I turned the water off and reached for the towel.
With pajamas on and damp hair brushed back, I stepped into the warmth of my bedroom, drawn immediately to the small wine cabinet in the corner near the fireplace.
This wasn’t a celebration. This wasn’t a moment of joy. Instead, it was one of those nights I needed something stronger than silence.
I uncorked the bottle and poured myself a glass. The fire had already been lit earlier, and a soft glow was dancing against the glass windows overlooking the east garden. I settled into the couch with glass in hand, watching the quiet flicker of flames.
I had barely taken my second sip when the knock came.
Soft. Predictable.
I didn’t answer. I didn’t have to.
The door opened, and in walked Kieran - freshly showered and wearing his usual silk pajamas that made him look far too harmless for someone like him. His eyes swept over the wine bottle and glass in my hand, and one brow lifted in silent question.