One hour had passed since the events in Sophie's room.
"Sophie, take your time to get ready. Lydia and I will be downstairs finishing up breakfast. You can join us whenever you're ready," Eliana said softly, as she stood up from the bed and left the room with Lydia.
The soft click of the door closing echoed in the room, leaving Sophie alone with her thoughts. The weight of Eliana's kindness, the unexpected warmth in her eyes, pressed upon her heart, a stark contrast to the cold indifference she was accustomed to. The room, once a symbol of her confinement, now felt like a sanctuary, a haven from the storm that had ravaged her family.