Ellen woke up slowly, her eyes still heavy from sleep. She stretched, her limbs stiff as she yawned deeply, and glanced at the clock on her bedside table. The time read well past her usual waking hour.
She sighed, falling back into the comfort of her pillows for a moment. She had intentionally slept in today. The thought of facing her father after last night’s conversation made her stomach turn with a mix of irritation and embarrassment. There was no way she could sit across from him at breakfast, pretending like everything was normal, when she knew he’d probably continue where he left off with his teasing. No, she needed time before she could face that again.
Reluctantly, she swung her legs over the side of the bed and got up. She ran a hand through her messy hair and pulled it into a quick ponytail, glancing at her reflection in the mirror. Her face was still slightly flushed from the lingering thoughts of last night. She shook her head, as if trying to shake away the embarrassment.
"Get it together, Ellen," she mumbled to herself. "It’s just breakfast. Colleen’s probably the only one down there."
The thought brought her a little comfort. At least she wouldn’t have to deal with her father’s annoying questions—Colleen, for all her teasing, was still easier to deal with. With a sigh, she made her way to the door, opening it quietly and stepping out into the hallway.
As she walked toward the dining room, the delicious aroma of fresh toast and scrambled eggs filled the air, making her stomach rumble.
When Ellen entered the dining room, she found Colleen seated at the table, a plate of breakfast in front of her, fork in hand. Colleen looked up as she heard Ellen’s footsteps and gave her a wide grin. "Morning, sleepyhead," she greeted.
Ellen sighed but couldn’t help the small smile tugging at her lips. She walked over and pulled out a chair, sitting across from her sister. "Morning," she replied. She blinked at Colleen, then glanced around the room. "Where’s Dad?"
Colleen paused, then let out a soft chuckle, shaking her head. "Don’t worry," she said, giving Ellen a knowing smile. "He’s already gone to work. You’re safe, for now."
Ellen felt a rush of relief at her sister’s words, her shoulders visibly relaxing as she let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. "Thank goodness," she muttered, shaking her head. "I don’t think I could handle another round of his questions about grandchildren." She picked up a piece of toast from the platter in the center of the table and began spreading butter on it. "Seriously, he kept going last night."
"At least you don’t have to deal with him this morning. So you can relax."
Ellen chuckled softly, her irritation slowly fading away. Colleen finished her toast, wiped her fingers on a napkin, and stood up from the table, stretching her arms toward the ceiling.
"Okay, I have to go now. I can’t be late to class this time." She rolled her eyes dramatically, clearly annoyed at the idea of being scolded by her professor again.
Ellen smiled, watching her sister gather her things. "All right, have a good day." She waved a hand as Colleen slung her bag over her shoulder. "And try not to get into trouble."
Colleen winked at her. "No promises." She turned and began walking out of the dining room.
Ellen sighed, turning her attention back to her breakfast, taking another bite of her toast as she glanced out the window. She was about to take another bite when she heard footsteps approaching again. Ellen looked up, her brows furrowing in confusion, just in time to see Colleen reappear in the doorway, this time holding a large bouquet of red roses in her hands.
"Guess what!" Colleen said. She held the bouquet out in front of her, a playful smile creeping onto her lips. "Look what just arrived. Seems like someone’s got a romantic husband, huh?"
Ellen blinked, her eyes widening slightly as she took in the sight of the roses. Her mouth opened, but no words came out for a moment, and then she frowned, her brows knitting together. "Mason?" she muttered. She set her toast down on her plate and stood up, moving toward her sister. "Let me see those."
Colleen’s grin only widened as she held the bouquet out, allowing Ellen to take it. "You’re so lucky," she teased. "I mean, who sends roses this early in the morning?"
Ellen took the bouquet from her sister’s hands, her eyes scanning over the deep red petals. She didn’t know whether to be touched or embarrassed as this was unexpected. She glanced at Colleen, who was watching her with a knowing smile.
"Though, to be honest," Colleen said, scrunching her nose slightly, "they smell kinda funny. Not like the usual roses. Anyway, enjoy!" She waved her hand dismissively, already turning to leave the room. "Bye again!" she called over her shoulder as she walked away.
Ellen watched her sister go, her eyes lingering on the doorway for a moment before she looked back down at the roses in her hands. A small smile tugged at her lips, and she sighed softly. "Mason, did you really send these?"
She brought the bouquet closer to her face, inspecting the petals closely. She reached out with one hand, her fingers brushing gently against one of the petals, feeling its softness beneath her touch. But then she paused, her eyes narrowing slightly as she felt a wet sensation on her fingertips.
Ellen pulled her hand back, her eyes widening in confusion. She looked down at her fingers, her heart skipping a beat as she saw the red liquid smeared across her skin. It wasn’t water—no, it was thick and dark, and the smell—
She raised her hand to her nose, her breath catching in her throat as the sharp, metallic scent hit her. It was unmistakable—blood. Her stomach turned, a wave of nausea washing over her as she realized what she was holding. The bouquet slipped from her hands, falling to the floor with a soft thud.
How could this be? Why would someone send her a bouquet of roses soaked in blood?