The next day dawned quietly, the events of the garden attack still lingering like a shadow over the mansion. Jessica rose early, determined to occupy her mind and avoid Armando as much as possible. She spent the morning with Alvaro, helping him piece together a jigsaw puzzle while his chatter filled the room. His innocence was a reminder of what she was fighting to protect, even if she didn’t yet know how.
By mid-afternoon, Jessica found herself wandering toward the greenhouse, a rare sanctuary on the estate. The soft hum of nature—the rustling leaves, the faint buzz of insects—offered her a moment of peace she desperately needed.
She was pruning a flowering vine when she heard footsteps behind her. Turning, she saw Dante standing at the entrance, his hands in his pockets.
“Didn’t
