pte

thing Isabella had e

friendship is quietly evaluated. Every decision weighed against the reputation of the Laure

iel had beco

reckle

dram

elibe

s with quiet precision. She left home under reasonable excuses - a walk, a charity visit,

it

ed the shift

s they walked along a narrow path lined with tall trees. The sky above

back into her bag. "Ol

orry?" he a

"I'm not used to doing th

arefully. "Do you need

she said after

her world operated on invisible rules - rules that had

path where strangers might recognize her. The bench became theirs without discussio

ng, that Daniel spoke more op

is hands clasped loosely between his knees. "It's nothing dramat

ard him fully. "Why

le. "Because I don't want you th

is voice made he

ou that way,"

as if searching for

ruction jobs. Repairs. Whatever I can find. It's exhau

abella said immediately,

ition - but for his steadiness. Daniel carried responsibility

e, Isabella began to understa

bills," she admitted quietly. "Or whet

our fault," h

l like everything I have was handed to

listening the way he always

. "Control of money. Control of image. Control of people." She hesi

y, though his voice remained

n settled b

rarely been

at her hands b

belongs to me," she said at

s gaze

meone who belongs in a

ck something d

ay - not as an heiress, not as a fut

s a w

e worthy

etween th

sharing mor

how his mother used to say he had patient hands - hands meant to build, not destroy. About the strange feel

asked carefully one evening, referring t

ad. "They liked

" he pres

who looked at me

pped out before sh

breath

I look at yo

m real,"

followed was no

as a

ting warm halos across the pathway, Daniel reac

th int

she didn'

urally - like a memory being

nd hardship. Status and simplicity. None of it mattered inside the small

warmth, somethin

ware

neither da

. Louder. Sometimes he woke with the sound of screeching metal ring

always - Isab

yond hi

appens when someone finds out?"

w who h

her," s

es

red ahead at

't unde

u?" Daniel a

d to him,

s you choose,

ed heavier tha

he knew h

knew c

to choose,"

ened - not possessi

fe chooses fo

sed through her at

ready knew some

uneasy whispers. Somewhere in the distance, thunder murm

d longer t

the sky to dar

ella to memorize the

the way she tucked her hair beh

fragile to say aloud - travel, freedom, a small home untouched

sions, something rooted i

nfatu

rebe

lo

ie

ea

ow

stood was how precious the

grows in secret of

also more

lights and fading sunset, the futu

ea

oida

he promises they whispered