Kaida
I had been seething ever since I left Bastian’s house. The silence of my apartment was supposed to calm me, to give me space to think, but instead, it only amplified my anger. My mind kept looping through Vittorio’s words like a broken record. I tried to ignore the growing storm inside me, but it was impossible. Every time I thought about Bastian’s refusal to tell me the truth, my frustration flared again.
The next morning, I was still fuming when I heard a knock on my door. I knew who it was before I even opened it—Bastian. I wasn’t ready to face him yet, but I wasn’t the kind of person to hide, either.
When I opened the door, there he stood. His face looked worn, almost apologetic, but I didn’t care. Not anymore. I was too tired of apologies.
“Kaida,” he began, stepping into th
