She stood and placed the box on the dresser, her resolve hardening. This house, with its cold walls and lingering shadows of the past, was no longer her home. But she had returned, and she would not allow their words to break her.
As she stepped toward the door, the voices grew fainter, suggesting that Qin Sayou and Yu Jia had moved to another part of the house. Lixue took the opportunity to slip out of her old room and wander the hallways, each step stirring memories she had long buried.
Her feet led her to a small balcony overlooking the mansion'sgardens. The cool night air brushed against her skin, bringing a momentary sense of calm. From her peripheral point of view, she could see her father standing near the fountain, alone and deep in thought. His figure was tense, his hands clasped behind his back as though holding himself together.
