Chapter 24

Marienne's Pov

I never intended to fall asleep on that bench in the garden. Deciding to take a walk to clear my head seemed to have been a wrong idea. The fresh air and the scent of the flowers must have had a calming effect on me, which caused me to doze off.

I woke up with a start and shivered as the chill of the evening air hit me. The sun had set while I was asleep, and the sky was now dark, with only the moon and the stars providing any light. I rubbed my eyes and looked around, trying to get my bearings.

That's when I saw him. A tall man dressed in a black suit was standing a few feet away from me, watching me with a smirk on his face. I didn't know how long he had been there, but his presence made me feel uneasy.

I was too stunned to speak, my mind reeling at the sight of this mysterious figure. He had a certain aura of danger about him, but at the same time, there was something alluring about him that I couldn't quite put my finger on.

"Good evening," he said, his voice smooth