Sara Ikari Rodriguez:
I locked myself in the guest room and sat at the edge of the bed, fingers clenched in my lap.
He looked stunned. Not offended. Not confused.
Just… stunned. Like maybe he had been waiting for it.
And now, I was spiraling.
It was supposed to be a safe kiss. A camera kiss. A nothing kiss.
So why had my chest gone tight the second I pulled back?
Why had his eyes followed me as I walked away like he was trying to understand what just shifted between us?
And more importantly—
Why hadn’t I regretted it?
The knock came twenty minutes later.
Not Matio. Not Maria.
House staff.
“There’s a lunch being set up in the garden, ma’am,” the maid said politely. “Mrs. Rodriguez asked if you’d like to change into something lighter.”
I nodded, still dazed. “I… yes. Thank you.
