Annabelle retched violently, though she hadn't eaten since this morning. Her body had been rebelling against her these past few days, a reaction to the stress of constantly being under Sophia's watch. Wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, she cursed under her breath.
"Damn that woman," she grumbled, splashing cold water on her face, the chill helping to ground her spinning thoughts. She stared at her pale reflection, her lips trembling despite herself.
"Anna, are you okay?" William's voice cut through the silence, and Annabelle sighed, gripping the sink. The old man had become insufferably attached to her, his concern more suffocating than sweet.
With a deep breath, Annabelle adjusted her tone to a sweet, placid whisper. "I'm fine, Papa." She dabbed at her face with a towel, smoothing her features into a delicate mask before stepping out.
