When Sofia returned home, her footsteps were light, nearly dancing across the hardwood floor. She couldn't wait to tell Bella. She headed straight for Bella's room and pushed the door open, her face beaming.
"Bella! You won't believe—" Sofia stopped mid-sentence.
The room was dim, and Bella was curled into a tight ball on the bed, looking small and fragile. Her skin was pale, and her eyes were red-rimmed. Sofia rushed to her side, her excitement instantly turning into deep worry.
"Bella? What's wrong?" Sofia asked, sitting on the edge of the mattress. She reached out, noticing the salt stain of dried tears on Bella's cheeks. "Are you sick? Did something happen while I was gone?"
Bella didn't look up at first. She was still hurt from the sensations of Alfred's betrayal, her heart feeling like a bruised weight in her chest. She forced herself to take a shaky breath, putting her mask back on.
