Chapter 92. Wonderland Candy

ARDEN

Again, like how I felt in her office at the United Factions, I felt light. Her counseling room in this office was a far cry from the stiff wooden panels and pristine files one would expect from a practicing politician. Thin beige curtains let sunlight filter in through delicate embroidery, a potted plant in the corner looked like it had been watered diligently, and two mismatched chairs rested near her desk. Everything about the space felt strange and gentle at the same time.

I didn’t feel as if I had walked into a trap, and that surprised me more than anything. I sat down slowly, careful not to rearrange the scattered papers on her desk. The walls displayed her certificates and commendations, and a small photo frame on a shelf captured a much younger Bethany smiling. She looked like someone who had once known a great deal of joy.

Bethany closed the door behind her and gave me a look before sighing. I swung my feet because the chair was too high, and she sigh