They were laughing—so lost in their own world that they hadn’t noticed her yet. Luke’s arm was slung casually around the girl’s shoulders, his grip possessive, his smile smug. They looked… happy. Completely at ease with each other.
Something twisted inside Arda.
It wasn’t jealousy.
Not even regret.
Just… the bitter aftertaste of a memory that had once stung like an open wound.
And then it happened.
Luke looked up.
His laughter faltered.
His eyes locked onto hers.
For a fraction of a second, time seemed to stand still.
The recognition in his gaze was swift, followed by something else—something unreadable. Surprise? Confusion? Annoyance?
Then his gaze shifted.
To Gillow.
A new kind of tension rippled through the air, almost tangible.
Luke’s expression hardened as he made the co
