ISLA’s POV
The past week had been a whirlwind of changes, and I couldn’t help but feel the shift in the air. Sitting outside in the garden, the crisp breeze kissed my cheeks as I stared at the flowers swaying gently. For the first time in a long while, I felt like I could breathe. My fever had faded, my strength returning bit by bit, and yet what occupied my mind most wasn’t my recovery—it was Oliver.
He had been… different. A good different. He wasn’t the controlling man who barked orders and demanded compliance. He was attentive, thoughtful, and surprisingly gentle. When I spoke, he listened, truly listened, without interrupting or dismissing me. He didn’t impose his will on me anymore; instead, he asked my opinion and waited for my response. It was baffling.
I leaned back on the benc
