pte

ph

ud, relentless and suffocating. I couldn't shake the feeling that my life had irrevocably changed, and not in any way I could have prepared for. The p

nside me. There was something oddly comforting about the steady rhythm, but it didn't tak

ldn't untangle. I dragged myself to the bathroom, my eyes immediately locking onto my reflection in the mirror. The face staring back at me didn't feel like my own. It wasn't just the exhausti

could forget. His name was a constant reminder of the life I never wanted to be part of but somehow had been dragged into. He carried weight, power-things that

"Get a grip, Sophia. You can't afford to fall apart now." I had to move

he way he'd taken control of everything that night in the alley, the way his presence had simply filled the space, demanding at

ong to him, or was he just making a claim on me that I had no power to deny? My hands clenched into fists

thoughts away. I couldn't let myself

on the things that usually gave me strength-my independence,

eople moving, rushing to their destinations. But today, I felt like I was disconnected from it all. Like I was floating above it, watching everything but not

ket, and I pulled it out,

for cof

e responding. I couldn't talk about Mikha

I need

I wasn't ready to share what was really going on. But the pressure in my chest felt like

-

kh

ay focused, had to keep moving forward. But even as I went through the details

out a knock, and Viktor stepped i

y but tinged with caution. "I've g

reen in front of me, but inside, my interest piqued

asking questions. About her father's dealings. She's trying to understand w

, the tension buildin

tor continued, his voice low, laced with conce

with possibilities. "Let her dig. It's not l

roblem. She's too smart. She might unc

inevitable, wasn't it? The world I inhabited was a dang

situation pressing down on me. The rain outside pelted aga

my voice cold and controlled, mask

efore nodding. "Un

areful with her, trying to keep her away from the worst parts of my world. But now it seemed like she was actively pulling herself into it. And

ht didn't sit

ng about her that unsettled me, something that made me want to protect her-not because sh

n't give he

world, whether she wanted

derstand just how far I woul