day before seemed unreal, as if she had experienced a strange but terribly vivid dream. She stood up slowly, her thoughts turning to the previous n

thing. He was there, however, his gaze fixed on his plate, his attitude frozen, distant. He didn't look at her or Clara. Only a whis

ey had shared? She felt like an abyss had opened between them, and the fear that he had used her for a moment, without any real interest in he

led her aside. She leaned closer, her

ara's voice was low, as if she didn't want Julien

er, taken aback. "

as... secrets. Lots of secrets. » She leaned even closer. "He can make you forget everything you think you know. And it's not ju

. "But he didn't do anything wr

vates them. And when you are under his influence, he can break you. » She paused, as if the words she had just spo

sigh. "You mean I

ra replied, her eyes dark with worry.

to lose herself in this dangerous attraction, this desire that she had not tried to understand? But why did Clara seem so concerned, so u

s, she saw Julien on the horizon, walking slowly through the forest. Her gaze fixed on him, and before she could even

k stiffened slightly when he felt her presence behind hi

followi

ould talk a little," she replied,

His eyes sparkled for a moment, then he gave

"Yes...I...feel like you're different

eyes. Then, without saying a word, he turned on his heel and started walking again into the forest, meanin

e leaves and the cracking of the branches. Nature around them seemed almost silent, as if it too was listening to what was a

asked Julien suddenly,

sure if it was the question that t

ped abruptly, now staring at her intently. "You have one chance to

y are you telling me this? » she asked, unable

ards her, as if to invite her to follow him into a depth that she did not

t having noticed that her feet had slipped on a wet root. Before she even had time to react, she felt

d, pulling her toward him with a force that made her gasp. She clung to him, her heart pounding in her chest.

he asked, his eyes scanning

her mind still foggy with the fear of th

rdened, almost cold. "It's better that you stay clo

way he said those words suggested that this was just the