As the picnic drew to a close, Zafron found himself swept up in a whirlwind tour of the Beaumont estate. Cassandra led him through winding corridors and opulent rooms, each more breathtaking than the last.
"And this," Cassandra said, gesturing to a cozy sitting room, "is where I spent most of my childhood reading."
Zafron's eyes widened as he took in the floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, plush armchairs, and a crackling fireplace. 'Good grief,' he thought, 'her childhood reading nook is bigger than my entire house,'
As they moved through the mansion, Cassandra shared snippets of her life, painting a picture of a privileged but lonely childhood. Zafron couldn't help but feel a twinge of sympathy, despite the vast gulf between their upbringings.
