The day passed slowly, the quiet of the mansion pressing down on Ella as she roamed its endless halls. She spent hours exploring, wandering from one room to another, marveling at the sheer opulence of the place. It felt like a gilded cage, every corner meticulously curated to perfection, yet it lacked the warmth of a true home. She found herself drawn to the library, its towering shelves filled with books that whispered promises of escape.
Ella selected a novel at random, its worn spine a contrast to the glossy covers surrounding it. She settled into a plush chair by the window, the golden light of the afternoon spilling over the pages as she sank into the story. It was a romance, of course—an easy distraction from the reality of her situation.
