Chapter 364
FAYE
The sound didn’t just echo.
It settled.
Heavy.
Like it belonged there.
+25 Paints
For a second, I didn’t move. I didn’t even breathe properly. My eyes stayed on the doors, like they might
explain themselves if I stared long enough.
They didn’t.
They just… stayed shut.
A faint ringing filled my ears, or maybe it was just the silence stretching too far, pressing in on everything. No one spoke. No one moved. I could feel it–the shift in the room, the way everyone had gone quiet
without needing to be told.
I blinked.
My gaze flickered briefly to the side, then back to the doors again, like I had missed something.
Someone must have pushed them.
That was the first thought that came.
It had to be.
Except-
No one was near them.
My throat felt dry all of a sudden.
I swallowed, forcing my shoulders to relax, even though they had gone stiff without me noticing. My attention shifted back to the room slowly, carefully, like I didn’t want to draw more attention to what had just happened.
Martha was still standing in front of me.
Waiting.
Her expression had changed–subtly–but I saw it. The confusion was still there, but now there was something else layered beneath it. Caution. Not fear exactly… but close enough.
I exhaled softly.
Too aware of myself now.
Chapter 364
Too aware of the fact that I had just raised my voice over something that didn’t deserve it.
“–”
25 Points:
The word caught.
I paused, clearing my throat lightly before trying again.
“It’s… fine,” I said.
It came out uneven.
Not quite steady, but I didn’t push it. I just gave a small nod, like that settled it. Like nothing else needed to
be said.
Martha didn’t question it.
“Thank you, Luna,” she said immediately, relief slipping into her tone in a way she tried to hide but couldn’t
quite.
She dipped her head slightly, respectful as always, then turned to gather the last of what she had brought
- in. Her movements were a little quicker now.
The others followed her lead.
Quietly.
No one mentioned the doors.
No one looked at them again.
And within moments, the room started to empty.
Like everyone had silently agreed to leave things exactly where they were.
I stayed where I was.
Standing there, watching as the last of them stepped out.
The sound of the doors opening again was softer this time. Normal, controlled.
And just like that-
I was alone.
The silence felt different now.
I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding and moved toward the chair slowly, my steps measured.
I pulled it out and sat down, my fingers resting lightly against the edge of the table.
For a moment, I didn’t do anything.
I just sat there,
Looking at the food in front of me.
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< Chapter 364
The same food I had just been complaining about.
Nothing wrong with it.
Nothing at all.
My lips pressed together slightly.
What was that?
Not the doors… me.
What was that?
I leaned back a little, my fingers curling loosely in my lap as I tried to make sense of it.
I had walked in, seen breakfast.
And somehow-
That had turned into… that.
+25 Points
I frowned slightly, replaying it in my head. The tone of my voice. The way I had cut Martha off. The way I
hadn’t let it go even after she apologized.
It didn’t make sense.
I wasn’t like that.
I never had been.
Even when I was irritated, I knew how to keep it in check. I knew how to let things go when they weren’t
worth the energy.
And this-
This hadn’t been worth anything.
I exhaled slowly, dragging a hand lightly over my face before letting it drop back down.
I overreacted.
There was no other way to put it.
It hadn’t been about the food.
It hadn’t even been about Martha.
It was just crazy.
Like something had built up without me noticing and then spilled over at the smallest thing.
My gaze dropped briefly to my hands.
I shifted slightly in my seat, rolling my shoulders back as I tried to shake off the last of it.
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< Chapter 364
Maybe I was just-
Tired.
That would make sense.
The restless feeling from yesterday.
The mood I couldn’t place.
The way everything had felt slightly off.
It had to be that.
Nothing more.
I let out another breath and leaned forward slightly, resting my elbows lightly against the table.
“Get it together,” I muttered under my breath.
+25 Points
I closed my eyes for a brief second, focusing on my breathing. In. Out. Steady. Letting everything settle
properly this time instead of just pushing past it.
It worked.
Or at least, it felt like it did.
When I opened my eyes again, the tension had eased. Not completely gone, but manageable.
That was enough.
I straightened slightly, reaching for the plate in front of me. My fingers brushed against the edge before I picked up a piece of the flatbread, tearing off a small portion without much thought.
For a second, I just held it there, checking it like I wasn’t sure if I was still allowed to eat it.
Then I took a bite.
It tasted exactly like it always did… just how I liked it.
I should probably apologize to Martha.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
