Alicia’s gaze turned downcast. Whenever Ivan called her name with slightly raised lips, a sort of welling sadness formed in her caged heart.

He rarely called her by her name, if ever…

“I want you to call me by my name too, Alicia. Ivan. Call me that. Is this okay with you?”

Tears had fallen, almost. His carefree smile brought her back to their first meeting. The painful memories had been wiped out and only the memory of that boy in the garden remained. She hoped this could last.

“Yes,” Alicia bit her lips and answered.

“Alicia, I know you’re in a difficult position and I can’t imagine how you...