LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 20: Hard To
Raelynn lay back on the comfy bed in her new room, staring up at the high, fancy ceiling. Dinner had been nothing short of amazing—easily the most delicious meal she'd ever had in her life. The flavors still lingered faintly on her tongue, and she swore her stomach wasn't just carrying a baby now but also an entire buffet. She groaned softly, patting her belly with a mix of satisfaction and regret. "I'm stuffed," she muttered, rolling onto her side.
The bed beneath her was the definition of luxury—soft, cozy, and big enough to fit three of her old mattresses. She should've been out like a light by now, but sleep just wouldn't come. No matter how much she closed her eyes or tried to relax, her mind refused to settle.
Raelynn sighed, flopping onto her back and staring up at the ceiling again. "This doesn't make sense," she mumbled to herself, her fingers drumming absently against her overly full stomach. "I should be sleeping like a baby right now. I mean, look at this place!"
She pushed herself up onto her elbows and glanced around the room, taking in the thick curtains, the elegant furniture, and the enormous bed that practically screamed, "You're royalty now, go ahead and act like it." And yet, instead of drifting into dreamland like a normal person, she was wide awake, her thoughts as chaotic as ever.
Maybe that was it. Maybe it was just how completely ridiculous everything was. One minute she was stressing about overdue bills and counting coins for groceries, and the next, she was lying in a bed so soft it could probably swallow her whole if she let it. "It's like going from eating instant noodles every day to suddenly being handed a five-course meal," she muttered, shaking her head. "Your brain just… glitches."
She plopped back down, puffing out a dramatic breath. "I mean, come on, Raelynn," she grumbled, waving a hand at the room as if scolding it. "You've got everything now—a fancy mansion, no rent to worry about, food that could rival a Michelin-starred restaurant… and you can't even savor it properly. What's wrong with you?"
She paused, then added under her breath, "It's probably all too sudden. Yeah, that's it. Like when you try to drink from a fancy fountain and accidentally choke on the water. Too much, too fast." She snorted softly, amused by her own analogy, then groaned again. "Ugh, get it together. You're ruining the rich-person vibe already!"
With a frustrated sigh, Raelynn pushed herself up, the silk sheets crumpling around her waist. "Fine," she mumbled to no one in particular. "If I can't sleep, maybe a little walk will help."
She swung her legs over the side of the bed, slipped her feet into the soft slippers Hera had left for her, and made her way to the door. The mansion was dead silent at night, the kind of quiet that felt almost too loud. She stepped into the dim hallway, pausing for a second as her eyes adjusted to the soft light from the wall lights.
As she walked, she let her fingers trail lightly along the smooth wooden rail of the hallway. Everything here was so polished, so pristine. She couldn't help but marvel at how perfect it all was. It felt like stepping into a world that didn't belong to her, one where worries about rent or grocery budgets didn't exist.
Her steps slowed as she passed by a door she recognized from earlier. Elion's room. She paused, glancing at the door with its fancy carvings. For a brief moment, she wondered if he was inside. Was he sleeping, or was he still out doing… well, whatever it was Elion did? She frowned, shaking her head. "Not my business," she muttered under her breath, quickly continuing down the hallway.
Her steps led her to the living room. Raelynn stood for a moment, taking it all in. The massive leather couches, the sleek coffee table, and the walls lined with art that probably cost more than her old apartment. She let out a low whistle. "Rich, rich," she said to herself, the words half in awe and half in disbelief.
She moved toward one of the couches, sinking into its softness with a sigh. Leaning back, she let her head rest against the cushion and stared up at the high ceiling. "This is what it's like, huh?" she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "Not having to worry about rent or what's on sale at the grocery store."
Her hand instinctively went to her stomach, her palm resting gently over her flat stomach. She rubbed it slowly, her mind wandering to the baby growing inside her. "You're lucky, you know that?" she said softly. "You'll have a good life here. You won't have to worry about anything."
The thought should've comforted her, but instead, it brought a pang of guilt. She frowned, her hand still on her stomach. Was she doing the right thing? Living here, agreeing to leave once the baby was born—it felt like there was no turning back. Would it make her a bad mother to walk away?
"But what else can I do?" she whispered, frustration showing in her voice. "I can't take care of a baby on my own. I don't have the money or the support."
Her thoughts were all over the place.She'd wanted Elion to take responsibility, and he was. Wasn't this what she had hoped for? For her baby to have a secure future, even if it didn't include her?
"Oh, gosh," she groaned, leaning forward and burying her face in her hands. "Why does it have to be so complicated?"
A long, tired yawn slipped out of her, almost like it was a reaction to her thoughts. Thinking about the future was exhausting, and her eyes began to feel heavier by the second. She shifted, curling up on the couch and pulling a throw pillow against her chest.
"Just a little sleep," she murmured, her voice soft as she let her eyes close.
She relaxed on the couch, her breathing slowing down as she drifted into sleep. All the stress faded away, leaving her in the peaceful quiet.
Raelynn had no idea, but a shadow quietly moved in the corner of the room, watching her. It stayed hidden, almost impossible to notice, as it crept closer.