Dustin had once told me this code was our wedding anniversary—that he would never change it. Turns out promises could be discarded as easily as feathers on the wind.
I stepped inside, and the house was unrecognizable.
The warm vintage brown tones I loved had been replaced by garish pink. My carefully chosen sofa, my furniture—all gone.
In their place: a rhinestone-encrusted princess sofa, lace-trimmed curtains, an entire wall covered in pink feather decorations. Every inch dripped with a saccharine "little princess" aesthetic. Alice's taste, everywhere I looked.
I was a stranger in my own home.
"Oh? Miss Harding?"
Behind me, the elderly housekeeper hurried over, her eyes sweeping me up and down in surprise.
"What are you doing here? Mr. Delgado gave strict orders—you're absolutely not allowed inside. If the missus sees you, it could trigger another episode."
Miss Harding? The missus?
Those two titles from her mouth landed like slaps.
Mockery flooded my eyes. I turned and headed straight for the stairs.
"You can't go up there! Mr. Delgado is busy!" The housekeeper's voice pitched higher with panic as she reached out to grab me.
"Get out of my way."