Ava

As I stepped into the building, the familiar hum of quiet conversations and distant footsteps filled the air. I was heading toward the café, just like Victor had texted, when a voice stopped me.

"Ava?"

I turned, and there he was—Marcel, my brother, looking at me like I’d just crawled out of a time capsule.

“What are you doing here?" he asked, brow furrowing.

"I came to see someone," I said, trying to sound casual, though I could already feel the tension creeping up my spine.

"Who?" he pressed. "I mean, the only people we really know here are Caspian and me. Are you here to see me? Because...