out over the sea, the distance between herself and her old life feeling wider than the vast horizon stretching before her. She felt the weight of it all:

e space. Isadora had been here for days now, and the walls of the estate felt as though they were closing in on her, even though she was alone in the ro

he door brok

a voice called

simply referring to him as "the guard." She didn't want to get too close, to humaniz

any," she replied curtly, her

Luca asks if you will

lowed himself to speak to her, there was a flicker of something behind his eyes, something vulnerable. He had

mples. "Fine. Tell him I'l

or, waiting for her to either shatter the barrier or let it remain. She shook her head and turned toward the small v

no longer in control. She was his prisoner, and the m

heard the door open quietly. She didn't

ce came from behind her, a low, almost paine

ne floor. She turned slowly, her heart pounding in her chest. Luca's expression was unreadable, h

e," she said, her voice quiet, barely above a

ps before she could stop t

udden motion might push her further away. "I don't despise you," he murmured,

stepped closer to him now, the distance between them closing, their shared space charged with unspoken tension. "You don't get to c

darkened momentarily before he masked it with that familiar coldness. But then he did s

. She stood frozen, unsure of whether to pull away or lean into the contact. His thumb

taken away?" he asked quietly, his voice rough, as though the words th

searching for any sign that this was a lie. But she saw nothing but raw tru

the words struggling to form.

" he replied simply, his voice dropping

ding her chest. She had never seen this side of him, not thi

d thick with emotion. Then, finally, Luca sp

he only one who has scars no one can see?" His grip on her face tightened ever so slightly. "I'm not the mon

ng, was a lie. Her father's lies. His manipulation. And yet, standing here in front of Luca, she was forced to confron

she fought them back fiercely. She wouldn'

" she whispered, the vulnerabil

avering. "You're stronger than you think," he said, his voice low

ince arriving at the est