"Miss Elena!" they gasped in unison, scrambling to adjust their clothes and smooth their disheveled appearances.
Elena stood awkwardly, unsure of how to react. Her presence had clearly embarrassed them, but she had no intention of making things worse. Without saying a word, she turned back toward the counter, grabbed her jug of water, and quickly exited the kitchen.
As she climbed the stairs back to her room, she let out a quiet breath, hoping to erase the unexpected sight from her mind. But just as she reached the hallway, a faint sound stopped her in her tracks.
Someone was sobbing.
Elena stilled, straining to hear more. The soft, muffled sounds grew clearer with each second. Her heart tightened. Someone was crying.
She took a few hesitant steps forward, following the sound. Her feet slowed as she came to a stop—right in front of Ford's door.
Her breath caught. Ford? Was he crying?
