King of Ruin

its breath. She couldn't decide if the weight pressing against her chest was relief or regret, but it was there-heavy and unrelenting. She hadn't expected him to leave so easily. Enzo didn't g

houghts that clung to her. Her eyes fell on the small table by the door, where a letter from her lawyer had been sitting untouched for days. It was about the house. The small cottage that she had painstakingly made her home. She had been putting it off, not wanting to think about the possibility of moving, of making permanent decisions. But now, with Enzo's reappearance, everything felt uncertain again. Isla had always believed she could escape the shadows of her past, but now they were creeping back into her life with an intensity she wasn't prepared for. A knock at the door jolted her from her thoughts. She froze, heart pounding, feeling as though the walls of the house were closing in on her. Was it him again? Was Enzo back already? The knock came again, louder this time. Her instincts screamed to ignore it, to pretend she wasn't home, but she knew that would be impossible. She wasn't ready for another confrontation with him, but it seemed he wasn't giving her a choice. She hesitated for a moment before walking toward the door, her feet heavy as they carried her forward. She opened it cautiously, just enough to see who was standing there. It wasn't Enzo. Instead, standing in the doorway, looking as concerned as she felt, was Mrs. Fletcher, the bookstore owner. The older woman's gentle smile was reassuring, but there was a flicker of curiosity in her eyes that made Isla uneasy. She knew Mrs. Fletcher was well enough to recognize when something was bothering her. "Isla, dear, I was just passing by and thought I'd check in," Mrs. Fletcher said softly, her gaze flickering over Isla's face as though searching for something hidden there. "I hope I'm not disturbing you." Isla forced a smile, stepping aside to let Mrs. Fletcher in. "Not at all. It's been a quiet day." "Too quiet for my liking," Mrs. Fletcher said with a small chuckle as she entered, her eyes scanning the room before settling back on Isla. "I thought you might need a distraction. How are you holding up?" Isla hesitated, unsure of how much she should reveal. Mrs. Fletcher had always been