The next day dawned with an unusual calmness in the air, a deceptive peace before the inevitable storm. Alina woke up to the soft sunlight streaming through the curtains, but her mind was restless. Despite Adrian’s promises, she couldn’t shake the unease that had taken root inside her after Ryan’s unexpected visit and Victoria’s shadowy interference.
She decided to confront her own thoughts by staying busy. Alina spent her morning in the garden, pruning the roses she’d come to love. The serenity of the task helped distract her, but her thoughts kept circling back to the same question: What kind of secrets was Adrian hiding?
Adrian found her in the garden when he returned from his early meetings. He approached her quietly, watching her tend to the flowers with a concentration that seemed
