The rain pattered softly against the window, a gentle backdrop to the quiet apartment. The events of the past week—the sabotage, the rival threats, and the endless pressure—had left both Adrian and Isabella drained, physically and emotionally. For the first time in days, they allowed themselves to simply breathe, to be in the presence of each other without agendas or tasks looming over them.
Adrian sat on the edge of the sofa, elbows resting on his knees, eyes distant. Isabella joined him slowly, perching beside him, fingers brushing his arm. “You don’t have to carry everything on your own,” she murmured softly, voice laced with concern.
He glanced at her, jaw tightening, a mixture of pride and vulnerability flickering in his dark eyes. “I know,” he said quietly. “But it’s… hard not to.
