Days blurred into a numb haze after the restaurant encounter. I barely left Sofia’s couch, my body heavy with exhaustion and a grief that refused to loosen its grip.
I missed him, even as the half-sibling revelation and his deception burned like acid in my veins. How could the man who had taken my virginity hide something so devastating?
Sofia hovered protectively, forcing me to eat and reminding me of the future I was fighting for. But the quiet only amplified the ache.
Then, late one afternoon, a sharp knock echoed through the small space. Sofia peeked through the peephole, her face tightening. “It’s him,” she whispered, glancing back at me. “Damien. You don’t have to see him, Elena.”
My heart slammed against my ribs. Part of me wanted to hide. The stronger part, the one that still f
