Not The World She Imagined

Cecilia's heart was racing as she stepped out of the teleportation portal into the expansive garden of the Sterling mansion. 

The vibrant blue flowers and neatly trimmed hedges, once a source of calm, felt almost mocking in their serenity. 

Her blue bob hair was shiny from the hurried bath she had taken at another hotel, a desperate attempt to scrub away the guilt and shame that seemed to cling to her like a second skin. But no amount of scrubbing could cleanse the turmoil that churned inside her.

She forced a smile as the maids and servants around the garden greeted her, their faces a mix of surprise and respect. 

She nodded absently at their greetings, her smile tight, her mind racing with a hundred thoughts. She was dreading what awaited her inside. 

Derek must have known by now. He must have. 

The announcement he made regarding the Mars Vanguard Initiative had only added to the heavy cloud of guilt and confusion that loomed over her.