Sophies pov
The city lights glimmered through my apartment window, painting gold across the walls. I had thought the day would be calm after the crisis at work, but Lucian had other plans.
A message appeared on my phone.
“Can we meet? I need to talk. Alone. —L”
My heart raced. Part of me wanted to ignore it — to retreat, to stay safe. But another part, the part I had been nurturing all week, urged me to respond. To step into the storm, just once more.
We met at a quiet, upscale café, dimly lit, private enough for conversation but public enough to feel safe.
Lucian’s presence was immediate, magnetic, intense. He didn’t sit; he leaned slightly toward me, eyes sharp, searching.
“You’ve been navigating everything with more strength than I expected,” he said softly, almost teasing. “But
