Chapter 17

• *ALBERT’S POV*
• I walked into the room quietly, trying not to disturb Evelyn. The leaves outside rustled in the night breeze, casting shifting shadows across the floor. The air carried the scent of pine and damp earth, a reminder of the untamed wilderness we called home. As I approached Evelyn, I couldn't help but recall my recent escapade with Nora.
• Nora had been a distraction, a brief escape from the weight of our world. We had made love some hours before. I knew she had been waiting for me, her eyes glinting with mischief.