Maria's Point of View
I let out a sigh of relief as I finished cleaning the last table in the restaurant. The closing shift always left me drained, but tonight was especially taxing. The weight of the past weeks had taken its toll on my mental and physical energy - dealing with Kairo and the defamation case had been overwhelming.
Just as I untied my apron and prepared to leave, there was a soft knock at the front door. Curious, I made my way to answer it, my heart racing when I saw Kairo standing there with an unreadable expression.
Part of me debated ignoring him, but ultimately I couldn't deny him entrance. With a resigned sigh, I opened the door just enough to speak to him face-to-face.
"What do you want, Kairo?" I asked, my tone exasperated.
Kairo stepped closer, his eyes softeni
