her heart pounding with anxiety, she felt the gentle weight of Mr. Hugo shifting beside her. Instead of the dreaded touch she had feared, she felt a light brush of fabric as he tucked a blanket around her shoulders more snugly. He shifted to his side of the bed, leaving a respectful distance between them. She heard a soft rustle and out of the corner of her eye, saw him place a small book on the bedside table.

In the dim light filtering through the curtains, she noticed a faint glow emanating from a small, ornate lamp that he had switched on. It cast a warm amber hue across the room, turning the once intimidating space into something more comforting. Elena’s heart rate began to slow, her tense muscles relaxing slightly as she realized that Mr. Hugo had no intention of crossing any boundaries that night.

As the night wore on, she drifted into a tentative sleep, the world around her fading into soft, comforting shadows. The next morning, Elena awoke early, the soft glow of dawn filtering through the thin curtains. Her heart sank momentarily, remembering where she was and what lay ahead. But then, she noticed something on the small table beside her bed — a delicate porcelain plate with a croissant, a small jar of honey, and a cup of coffee still steaming hot.