Chapter 143

Sofia. The world outside the villa was quiet. The kind of quiet that felt stolen—like it wasn’t meant to last. Soft waves lapped against the shore, the moon casting a silver glow over the Mediterranean waters. The night smelled of salt, warm earth, and the lingering scent of wine and something darker. Inside, the dim lighting painted everything in gold, flickering against the high ceilings, reflecting off the expensive crystal glasses still half-full on the bedside table. But none of that mattered. Because I was here. Tangled in him. This villa had been a sanctuary. A place of stolen peace, where my past didn’t exist, where blood and war didn’t stain my hands. The walls held secrets—whispers of love, anger, betrayal. And yet, tonight, the only thing pressing against me wasn’t the weight of my choices. It was Arsen. His fingers traced slow, lazy circles along my spine, his warmth seeping into me. I lay half-draped over him, my cheek pressed against his bare chest, listening to the stead