rble floor as she found her balance, her fingers twitching slightly from the sudden impact. Slo

have gasped or scowled. But all she did was ar

ures hardening by the second. She watched as the recognition dawned o

ice mouthed, his voice

icker of reaction. Less than twenty-four hours in his presence, a

you're fin

through the tension like a knife, break

efore him, his expression betraying no warmth. Yet, there was something-something about the way his lips curled slightly at the corner,

leaving her standing in the aftermath

ay unnoticed, blending into the background like a shadow

nd estate was sprawling, yet she had no intention of memorizing its pathways. She had always been

her left, rustling the sheer curtains and whispering agai

hat led outside. Light from the estate spilled through it, c

er boots making little sou

ly in the breeze, their fragrance mingling with the crisp scent of night air. A founta

in, letting ou

and

na

n bench nestled in the farthest corner. It sat beneath the

wn, crossing one leg over the other. Leaning back, she let he

oment did

leaves underfoot alerted

easured-cautious, yet deliberate. Whoever it was did

the hallway's exit. A silhouette stood ther

ng the glow of a nearby streetlamp

le

shifting her gaze aw

to the bench beside her, the space be

you wan

rst, surpris

led. "I'm sorry," he muttered, his voi

o her, yet she remained as still as th

e subtleties in her expression-the way her fingers curled slightly against the be

h, but it had been too s

wasn't m

ontinued, his voice softer now. "I just...

-barely-but

not

hing inside her, but she pushed it down,

ween them, broken only by the rustling l

nally, s

need savi

but firm, a statemen

into a thin line. "

st time since he sat down. His dark eyes reflected something she di

hate

she murmured, l

, he leaned forward, resting his forearms o

aid, finally pu

stepped away

one as you think

urned, disappearing

gaze fixed ahead, even

one as sh

a slow, bi

as w

always b

always w