As the two of them strolled through the vineyard, a strange, bitter wave of nostalgia washed over Anna, stirring memories she thought she had buried long ago.
Once upon a time, they had walked like this too—side by side, confiding in one another, sharing laughter, secrets, and sorrows. Back when Anna still believed that Marienne was someone she could trust. Someone who wouldn't eventually twist those shared secrets into weapons.
Now, it all felt like a scene from a play they'd performed before. Only this time, Anna wasn't the naive girl who mistook theatrics for sincerity. She knew better than to let Marienne anywhere near the parts of her life that still mattered.
"You know," Marienne chirped, clasping her hands together like a child with a clever idea, "we should plan a dinner together. Somewhere really nice."
"The Golden Room, perhaps?" Anna offered sweetly, her tone light, but her smile laced with something sharper beneath the surface.
