CHAPTER 32

(SHEILA'S POV)

As Emberlyn led me to one of our father's private estates, my mind swirled with apprehension. We were a few kilometers east of the pine woods, not too far from the former Silverthorn Haven, a place I once called home, safely distant from the borders of Harvestia's monarchy. Usually, Emberlyn’s presence was accompanied by a storm of hostility, but today, she remained eerily silent. Her uncharacteristic quietness set off alarm bells in my mind.

As we walked, I couldn’t shake off the feeling of confusion. Why was Emberlyn suddenly showing concern for me? It was a stark contrast to the years of abuse I had endured at her hands. From hair pulling to leg stomps, Emberlyn had made it clear that she despised me. The only flicker of kindness I could recall was a distant memory from our childhood when she offered me a few berries while I was locked in the basement. But that was just a fleeting moment among a lifetime of torment.

What puzzled me even more was the protective glare