exities of their age difference and the secrets that hung between them. Lucian introduced Clara to the beauty of the night-moonlit strolls,

ity. He spoke of lost loves and the pain of watching time pass while remaining unchanged. Clara's heart ached for him, and she realized she had fallen fo

g vengeance for a crime he had committed long ago. Clara's heart raced with a mix of excitement and dread. She was drawn deeper into Lucian's wor