As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden hue across the Thames, Sophia sat on her plush sofa, the silence in her flat echoing louder than the bustling city outside. The cold shower had momentarily washed away her frustrations, but now, as she wrapped herself in a soft towel, the familiar pang of longing returned. She glanced at her phone, its screen dimmed, a stark reminder of the two days of silence that had shrouded her connection with Lord P.

Sighing, she poured herself a glass of red wine, the deep crimson liquid swirling like the tumult of emotions within her. She took a sip, hoping to drown out the thoughts of betrayal and desire that had plagued her since their last exchange. Her mind flickered back to the tension of that moment when he had mentioned another woman—an uninvited shadow that lingered in their relationship.