The room seemed to blur and spin around him as he took his first unsteady steps toward the bathroom, where he hoped a cold shower and some aspirin might alleviate his physical pain. But the pain in his heart, the worry for Elena, remained—a constant ache that refused to fade.
And as he stepped into the shower, the icy water hitting his skin like a wake-up call, he knew that he had to start by sobering up, clearing his mind, and setting out on the path to find the woman he loved, no matter where it might lead.
Paul had managed to alleviate some of the physical discomfort with the cold shower, but the worry about Elena's whereabouts still gnawed at him. Determined to find answers, he made his way to the drawing room, hoping to talk to his mom.
"Mom," he called out as he entered her elegantly decorated room. He expected to find her there, a familiar figure amidst the opulent furnishings.
