The following day, Crescent High felt even smaller than usual. The memory of Luca’s words pressed against me relentlessly, and I barely had time to process before I found myself in the library, lost in my notebook, scribbling thoughts and strategies, attempting to sort through the storm of emotions.
I was so absorbed that I didn’t notice the soft shuffle of footsteps approaching until a shadow fell over my table.
“Aria.”
My head shot up, and I froze. Damian. He was standing there, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips, though his eyes—those dark, calculating eyes—held a seriousness I wasn’t prepared for.
“I… didn’t see you there,” I said quickly, my cheeks warming.
“Clearly,” he said smoothly, sliding into the chair across from me before I could react. His presence was overw
