chapter 1 1

Lyra's POV

As I walked away, the tears I’d been holding back finally spilled over, but this time, they weren’t just tears of sadness, they were tears of resolve. I knew, deep down, that I deserved more than what Kurtis was offering. And if he couldn’t see that, then maybe it was time I started seeing it for myself.

The sun set, casting a warm glow over the villa. I stood on the veranda, leaning on the railing, my thoughts tangled. I had tried to distance myself from Kurtis, to push my feelings away, but seeing him earlier had shaken my resolve.

Kurtis had been standing by the window, his face a mask of conflict and emotion. He hadn’t mentioned Angela, but the tension in the air was thick. And now, as I watched the last rays of sunlight disappear, I felt him before I saw him. Kurtis stepped onto the veranda, and even though I’d told myself to stay away, his presence pulled me in like a magnet.

We stood there in silence, the air heavy with all the things we weren’t saying. I could feel