I had specifically come to have lunch with William today, and after chatting with Catherine for a while, I got up to find William.
Ever since sending Marcus back to Europe, I had been afraid to face William. After all, Marcus left because of my rejection.
The rain outside had stopped, and William wasn't in the living room but in the garden outside.
"Annie!" His face lit up with genuine warmth as he waved me over. "Perfect timing. Come, come. I have something fascinating to show you."
Relief washed over me at his welcoming tone. I noticed an elegant birdcage on the stone table. Inside perched a sleek gray bird with a vibrant red tail, watching me with an intelligence that was almost unsettling.
"William, what kind of bird is this?" I asked, leaning closer to examine the creature. Its dark eyes followed my movement with eerie focus. "It looks remarkably... aware."
