The days that followed the intimate morning of breakfast and confessions were filled with an unexpected sense of calm. The storm that had raged between them seemed to have settled, leaving only the quiet hum of their growing connection. Sophie found herself slowly relaxing around Luca, letting go of the walls she had so carefully constructed over the years. But even in her newfound ease, a small part of her remained cautious. She couldn’t help it. The fear of getting hurt again, of opening herself up too much, lingered like a shadow.
But Luca—Luca didn’t seem to have any of those fears. It was as though he had made peace with his emotions, even with all the complexity surrounding their relationship. He was patient, always patient with her. He seemed to understand her more than she unde
