Echoes Of The Heart

Chapter Eleven

Stephlon lay awake all night, the moonlight slowly fading as the sun began to rise. As soon as the first rays of light pierced through the opened balcony, she jumped out of bed and ran to the bathroom. The nauseating feeling that had plagued her since waking was now overwhelming, and she barely made it to the toilet before the contents of her stomach erupted. She slumped to the floor, her body trembling, tears streaming down her cheeks. She pulled her knees to her chest and rocked back and forth, trying to calm herself.

For hours, Stephlon sat on the bathroom floor, hugging herself tightly. Finally, she pulled herself up, her golden-brown curls falling around her. She slowly made her way out of the bathroom, just to come back and shower, she got dressed quickly, pulling on a simple outfit that required little effort. She avoided the mirror, not wanting to see the redness of her eyes or the puffiness of her face. All she wanted was to get out of this house, to out as much distance between herself and the memories of her nightmare.

She found a cab quite early and left for the resort, as soon as she got to the entrance of the resort, she stood looking at the huge building, with workers bustling in and out, the workers that had been working on renovating the left wing greeted her as they got into their vans leaving he building since they were done with their off-peak hours.

She found a cab quite early and left for the resort, as soon as she got to the entrance of the resort, she stood looking at the huge building, with workers bustling in and out, the workers that had been working on renovating the left wing greeted her as they got into their vans leaving he building since they were done with their off-peak hours.

As Stephlon watched the construction crew leave, she smiled and said a few words of encouragement. The morning sun's light shone down on her face, her highlighting the golden flecks in her eyes and the tawny highlights in her hair. With her hair swept back by the morning breeze, she looked like an ethereal being, a sun goddess come to life. The construction workers left the resort, each one with an image of Stephlon's beauty and warmth imprinted on their hearts.

As Stephlon entered the resort, she exchanged smiles with the guests coming in from morning runs leaving the gym. Her sling purse hung elegantly from her shoulder, adding to her sir of sophistication. The night shift workers bid her goodbye, while the morning shift workers moved about the lobby, tidying up and welcoming the guests who had just arrived. Stephlon's footsteps echoed through the empty lobby, her heels clicking against the marble floor. She was alone in the vast space, a lone figure in the early morning light.

"Good morning, Damino," Stephlon said, smiling at the man behind the counter. A group of junior chefs worked alongside him, their heads bent over their cutting boards or stoves. Damino looked up, a smile hidden by his mask, his pepper and salt hair peeking out out from under his mesh skull cap. His hands moved quickly and expertly, chopping and stirring as he prepared the breakfast menu. Stephlon watched him work, mesmerized by the precision and speed of his movements.

As Damino cooked and directed his team, Stephlon chatted with him about everything under the sun. She laughed at her own jokes, her eyes bright and sparkling with humor. Her long golden-brown curls danced around her body hips, and her pearly white teeth flashed as she spoke. Damino couldn't help but smile at her antics, shaking his head in amusement even as his hands continued to move at a lightning speed. He was a master chef, and Stephlon's presence only added to his enjoyment of the morning's work.

"Of course you're here, Stephlon," Lady Louisa said, entering the kitchen with a soft but purposeful step. Her white hair gleamed in the morning light, and her dark eyes held a hint of amusement as they moved from Damino to Stephlon. She shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips. It was clear that Stephlon's presence was not entirely unexpected.

"Hello, Louisa," Stephlon said, jumping up from the kitchen stool and wrapping her arms around Louisa's neck. She buried her face in Louisa shoulder, her voice muffled as she mumbled her greetings. Louisa chuckled and gently ruffled Stephlon's hur, causing her to smile mischievously. The affection between the two women was evident, their closeness a testament to the bond they shared.

"Stephlon, let go of me," Louisa said with a theatrical eye roll, trying to pry Stephlon's hands from around her neck. But Stephlon held on tight, burying her face deeper into Louisa's shoulder.
"No way!" Stephlon said, her voice muffled and determined. Louisa laughed and shook her head, her eyes sparkling with fond exasperation.

After their playful tussle, Stephlon bid farewell to Louisa and went to attend to her work. She made her way to the dining hall, where she checked in with the staff to ensure everything was running smoothly and the guests were satisfied with the service. Once she was confident with that all was well, she moved to live the dining hall.

Stephlon was walking down the corridor, her thoughts still lingering on the laughter she had shared with Louisa, when suddenly a hand gripped her arm. She turned, a smile on her lips, expecting to see a friendly face. But instead, she found herself looking into the cold, calculating eyes of a strange man. His smile was anything but friendly, and she felt a chill run down her spine. She tried to pull her arm away, but his grip was like iron. The more she struggled, the tighter he held on.

"What's a lovely lady like you doing in a olace like this?" The man asked, his smile turning into a leer. Stephlon's stomach clenched, but she kept her voice light and sweet.
"Sir, how can I help you?" She asked, her smile beginning to feel more like a grimace. The man's eyes roamed over her, making her skin crawl. She had to get away from him.
"I could use a little company," he said, his grip tightening on her arm.

"You need to let her go" a deep voice boomed from the crowd. Stephlon's head whipped around to see who had spoken. Her eyes widened as she caught his familiar face.

Hello sweetie 😘
How're you doing? 🤨
Love from Stephler ❤️
And welcome to Stephler's LoveBoat once again 🥰
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서 랑 해 요 ❤️