Her heart hammered in her chest. Every step sounded louder than it should, echoing in her mind like a warning. The envelope from Dante rested on the dining

rattled across the cobblestones, and children ran between feet, laughing and shouting. And yet, every

ou see

ned ever

eady. How fa

o demand recognition, acknowledgment of the scandal she had caused. Her hand brushed the strap of her bag. Inside,

et, flanked by a few women who giggled at each word. Vivienne's

p as a blade. "You truly are the talk of the town. How does it

ight, her head high. She did not answer. She did not n

companions. "Some things cannot be fixed. Some

f fear. She had never been so conscious of her own presence, so aware of every step, ev

she saw h

is eyes unreadable. His posture was effortless, but the intensity in his gaze pinned her in place. For

hest. She wanted to look away, to ignore him, but something inside her would

he gossiping crowd. Every step was calculated, controlle

old. She could still feel eyes on her. Whispers slithered around the room. She imagined convers

he table. She looked up sharply, but it was only a

eave her alone, to leave the world alone, but she did not. Not yet. Ev

oken, the tears she had caused, the shock she had unleashed. Every memory,

rsations, and noticing the smallest reactions. A man paused mid-step to stare. A shopkeeper ti

he table. It beckoned, heavier than anything she had ever held. Her fingers hovered over it. She wanted t

er eyes. Elara gritted her teeth, feeling her anger rise. She wanted to confront her, to make her regret every word, bu

eeth pressing lightly into her lower lip. The city below carried on, unaware of the storm, u

e, black, sleek, familiar. Her heart skipped a

want to see him. She did not want to feel the pull that twisted her

t back, fingers brushing the envelope, her mind spinning. Every decision she made now mattered. Every gla

. But the most dangerous presence was Dante, calm, observing, unreadable,

ing approached, casting long shadows across the walls. She did not move. She did not reach for the phone. She o