“Ivy’s POV”
I didn’t plan to run into Cian that morning. I just wanted to sit in the courtyard and breathe.
I picked a quiet bench near the fountain. The breeze felt soft against my skin. I let my hands rest on my lap and stared at the water, not really thinking about anything. I just wanted silence. Real silence—not the kind that came with tension or hidden looks.
I heard footsteps behind me. I didn’t turn. I already knew who it was.
“Do you mind if I sit?” Cian asked.
I nodded once.
He sat beside me, keeping a small space between us. Not too far. Not too close.
For a while, we didn’t speak.
“I didn’t think I’d find you alone,” he said after some time.
“I don’t think Leon knows I’m here.”
“He usually does.”
“Not always,” I said.
Cian glanced at me. “You look tired.”
I kept my
