n't s

ould

e, his eyes, the words he didn't

ote

tch

eb

curtains of my room, it felt like a lie. Like the sun

t dressed in silence. Ate

the bell r

fro

chime. Same

of the hallway, heartbe

t go to

ime, I

of security, opened the door without a word.And there he w

t what I

ones. Jet-black hair slicked back with effortless precision. And those

e just looked at me.As if he already

an accent that curled the edges of every

wed. "Who

lightly, like he foun

e who honors

"That's no

agreed.

said nothing."I didn't invite yo

was

y w

threshold. No permi

up insti

t out o

else.Heat. Confu

ell was wro

d answers again, my f

ant

tur

stairs, pale, grim. Resigned.So h

ked up. "I

lenched. "Not here

istory, thick and unspoken.Then my father turned and wal

once - deliberate, slo

know what y

know what I

r behind him.But nothing felt closed.Ev

go back

like it had something to prove.The door closed behind them wit

hat was

history. Li

er. Tighter. Like chains.I moved closer, bare feet silent against the marble floor. The door

uldn't

d.Inside, I heard my fath

t need to s

me," Dante replied, calm as

s not

hat anymore." A pause. "

omach

ntr

dug into

," my father said

tone didn't rise. But it cut.

s a beat

She's in

ay." Dante's voice drop

t the edge of a small table and knocked a vase off balance - I caught it j

side.I held

d t

door

is jacket was off now, sleeves rolled to his forearms. He

e...

at thought o

voice low."I could ask you the

e mine. "Eavesdroppin

remember you."Something flickered across his

t," he sai

ould

e for a momen

hind his desk, hands clenched, eyes closed.He looked.

I demanded. "What

his eyes. "It wa

explain

dn't a

nte

his family," he said. "To protec

somehow i

ere the

fro

d felt l

as...

ng - measured. Like he knew he co

t y

me," he said, evenly. "The n

before I coul

Ye

n't agree t

oice softening. "Your father did.

like I could

omi

o

ther, voice breaki

saved you. You don't understand the world I

not an

len

hich is why the debt

how up, claim me like property, a

ink," he said. "I know."The

nsane," I

he wor

part of me had seen something in his eyes

ified me more

elf look too long, I