the heart of an abandoned warehouse district. The night was thick with the metallic scent of forgotten machines and the faint echo of footsteps long since faded in

ated deeper into the cavernous space, his touch tentative, ca

he murmured, voice low, filled wi

ps like a whispered promise. "No one comes here any

ed before a heavy steel door, its surface scarred and worn, almost invisible against the walls of peeling paint

past long abandoned. To anyone else, it was nothing - just another forgo

air as he watched her settle beside him. "I don't get why you'

distant stars. "Because sometimes... I need to feel like I'm more than what's expected of me." Her voice

er face. "You've never

ictor De Luca. Powerful, influential... the kind of man who owns half the city in hi

don't w

engagement was arranged - I never had a say. It feels like a contract, not a pr

strand of hair from her face. The warmth of his touch sent a

e was low, filled with a quiet in

led in her expression. "I want... I want to be free. To love s

ed with unspoken truths. "Maybe you don't hav

ling deep inside her chest. For a fleeting second,

confessed, voice trembli

ure of hope and something deeper - something r

agile sanctuary they'd created. The unmistakable click of camera shutters echoed thro

her hand and pulling her to

swallowing their hurried footsteps. Every sound felt amplified - the distant shouting of

l, the rough surface biting into her skin

hispered, his breath w

her mind was spin

nd her ear, fingers lingering on her

stretching between them - fragile, sus

ce screamed louder than the city's noise; how the weight of expectations crushed he

ds caught i

whispered,

d into a tender s

s almost touching, before the distant sounds

ana felt the pull of their secret bond -

in a long while,