Chapter 76

• The afternoon sun streamed through the library windows, casting warm pools of light on the polished wooden tables. Jane sat in the far corner, flipping through a novel, though her eyes barely skimmed the words. Her mind was elsewhere, tangled in the web of thoughts and emotions Luca had stirred days ago. She still couldn’t shake the image of his guilt-stricken face or the weight of his confession.
• The sound of soft footsteps approaching pulled her from her thoughts. She glanced up and froze when she saw Luca standing a few feet away, his hands shoved deep into his pockets, his expression uncharacteristically uncertain.
• “Jane,” he said softly. “Can we talk?”