Chapter 24
There is No Misunderstanding
I returned to the house, my spirit still alight with the quiet triumph of the market. My first priority was my sanctuary. I climbed straight to the attic, placing my new treasures, the paint, the brushes, the terracotta fabric in the corner I had already claimed. It felt like securing the foundations of a future no one else had built for me.
Only then did I descend to face the present.
I was laying the groceries on the kitchen counter when my mother's voice, sharp with impatience, cut through the air.
"Alayna? Are you finally done with the shopping? What took you so long?"
I turned, my expression neutral. "My apologies, Mother. The market was crowded."
Her eyes flicked to the counter, noticing the lack of any additional purchases. Her brows tightened.
"You were gone for hours just for groceries?"
"I needed a few necessities for my room as well," I replied, continuing to unload the vegetables.
