Lena woke slowly, surfacing from darkness like she was pushing through thick water.
Her head throbbed in dull, insistent pulses, each one echoing behind her eyes. She groaned softly and turned her face into the pillow, instantly grateful for the dimness of the room. No harsh lights. No noise. Just muted shadows and a quiet so deep it felt like mercy.
Thank God.
This day had taken more than a toll—it had wrung her dry.
The will reading.
The revelation of the inheritance.
And then—him.
Zayn.
The mere thought of his name made her chest tighten.
She opened her eyes slowly and scanned the unfamiliar room. The walls were painted in warm, neutral tones, the curtains half-drawn, letting in only a faint amber glow from outside. This wasn’t her apartment. And yet, it didn’t feel hostile. If
