“I’m not allowing anything to come between us,” Julian murmured, his lips grazing the sensitive skin of her neck.

“And you won’t either.”  

Sophia felt the declaration settle into her bones, weighty and irreversible. There was no retreat left. She had sunk too far, and escape no longer appealed to her—no longer even seemed possible.

“I have to leave. But this isn’t finished.”

Sophia remained silent as he pulled away to depart, her limbs still quivering from the raw force of their confrontation. She stood motionless in the center of the guesthouse, thoughts whirling chaotically, fully aware that whatever unfolded next would only drag her deeper into the perilous snare...