Soren’s POV
When I went to see Liliana that afternoon to officially meet her mysterious VIP guest, I ended up seeing... her.
The blonde in the bar. The guarded woman at hotel.
Right then, a weird sense of satisfaction hit me, like the last piece of a puzzle finally clicking into place.
So that was it.
She was the one Liliana brought over. This woman who was just a walking mess of contradictions, secrets, and pain.
It explained why she didn't recognize me at the bar.
Her name was Elara. It was a beautiful name.
She totally panicked when she saw me, having no clue how to explain our little "run-in".
I bailed her out. I kept the story short and sweet, protecting her privacy without making Liliana suspicious.
I caught myself staring at her. I watched how she twisted her fingers toget
