บท 171: Side chapter part 2

The night passed quietly, but for Leora, it was restless. She tossed and turned, her sleep troubled by unsettling dreams of shadowy figures and whispered threats. By dawn, she was awake, feeling a strange sense of foreboding she couldn't quite shake off. Determined not to let her stepmother's looming presence get to her, she dressed and headed to the kitchen to prepare breakfast.

As she cracked eggs and mixed batter for pancakes, her father entered the room, his face lighting up with a smile. "Good morning, sweetheart. Did you sleep well?"

Leora forced a smile. "Not as well as I'd like, but I'm fine. How about you?"

"I slept like a log, thanks to your hard work yesterday," he said, giving her a warm hug. "You're doing an amazing job, Leora. I don't say it enough, but I'm so proud of you."

Leora's heart swelled with love and gratitude. "Thanks, Dad. That means a lot."