That night, Damian lay awake in bed.

Lights off. Phone face-down on the bedside table.

Sleep refused to come.

Just as he was about to turn to the other side, his phone buzzed.

He glanced at the screen.

Sophia.

He stared at it for a second longer than necessary, then answered.

“Damian.”

Her voice was soft. Careful. Almost grateful.

“Yes?” he replied, tone neutral.

“I just wanted to say thank you,” Sophia said. “For coming tonight. I know it couldn’t have been easy.”

“It was a public event,” Damian said. “Nothing more.”

She chuckled lightly. “You always make things sound simpler than they are.”

Silence followed.

Then she added, gently,...