Vows in the Shadows
the crisp, white pages swam before her tired eyes, taunting her with promises of security and freedom, tethered to con
hour amplified her uncertainty. She had reread the contract so many times she
ility and artistic stagnation. And yet, the thought of binding herself to a
er thoughts. She glanced at the screen:
grateful for the
lia said bluntly. "What
her friend about Leonardo's proposal. "It's
ounds a lot like e
I... I've been offered a way out of my situation,
s?" Cecilia's tone s
dmitted, her voice b
a burst out laughing. "Marriage? Are you serio
credulity. "His name is Leonardo Castelli. And
Castelli? As in the Castelli family? Ama
's offering financial security and the chance to focus on my
. You've been through so much, and you dese
's my alternative? Keep struggling, keep sacrificing, and neve
you'll think it through. Don't let d
a said, though the
ess night. She wandered into the kitchen, her eyes landing on the folder still on the table. For hours,
ck at the door. She opened it to find
lson?" h
reveal a sleek, black envelope with Leonardo's init
an
Whatever you decide, know that I see potential
ona
s were calculated, yet there was an undercurrent of sincerity that unset
uary wind. She stopped in front of a gallery she often visited, her reflection staring back at her from the glass. Insi
delicate letters on a plaque. It was a dream she had carried since she firs
n. Another message fr
ds, but the wi
ge. The choice was no longer abstract; i
vas she had abandoned weeks ago. The painting was meant to be an explosion of hope and rene
irls, her emotions spilling onto the canvas. Anger, fear, hope, and desperation fought for dominance, eac
unrefined, and deeply personal. And for the first time
ally admitted the truth: she couldn't do this alone. She needed help-Leonardo's help. But ac
in the silence. Amanda closed her ey
is," she whispered to hersel
er heart pounding as she stepped into the building. The assistant
composed as ever. But there was a flicke
g from his chair. "Have
r hands clenched at he
s, searching for any hes
truggling like this. If this is what it
warmth softened Leonardo's fea
re, but she nodded.
ifted sligh
if it becomes too much," she said, her voice steady. "An
d her words before
decision settling over her like
curved into a fa
firm, his touch surprisingly warm. With a deep breath, she reached for th