small kitchen in her apartment, hands immersed in soapy water, when she heard the noti

es from your house. I would like to s

, to put it in a mental box where she locked away the things she didn't

e five m

athan was talking about was a modest but charming place, with wooden benches and a small fo

» she said by way of

by the faint glow of a street l

arms against the cold breeze. "So,

or the right words. Finally he spoke, his voice l

owards him, intrigued

ppearances are everything. My father was a successful businessman, but he was also a tyrant. Every

thin her, but she forced herself to rem

t she was... erased. My father dominated everything, including her. When he died,

then, I've done everything to keep my head above water. B

are to see Nathan so vulnerable, stripp

our father," s

e? » he asked, his dar

t you describe to me, would never have doubted himself. But

ying to decipher the sincerity in her w

table. Clara could almost feel the weight of Nathan'

hildhood either," she whi

his interest piqued.

ially not to a man like Nathan. But there was something in

father, my brother and me. She never explained why. My dad did his best, but... he

ression softened. Clara continue

nt to admit. I've learned to rely on m

d so much. But Nathan didn't seem to judge her.

bly strong, Clar

ng," she replied,

don't see what o

up. She wanted to protest, to divert the conversatio

y our burdens differently. But there's one thing I've l

uickly looked away, refusing to cry i

. "But if you ever n

d her deeply. She looked up at him, and in that m

Clara felt her breathing slow, her heart pounding. But at th

d go back," she said

ply nodded, but his look said

a," he whispered

what scared her more: the budding feelings she had for him or th