Chapter 72

• Damien paced outside of the quaint little café where he had seen Charlotte just days ago, an anxiety gnawing at him that wouldn’t let up. The sight of her laughing with Jake, the focus of their conversation highlighting the growing distance that had formed between them, had left him restless. He had tried to respect her need for space, but with each passing day, that respect felt more like a punishment than a choice.
• Determined to get answers, Damien finally decided he couldn’t wait any longer. He needed to confront her, needed to know why she was avoiding him. The path leading up to her studio was familiar, a route he had walked countless times before. Yet today, it felt different—heavy with purpose and laced with uncertainty.
• As he approached the building, he prepared himself mentally, rehearsing the words he would say. He had imagined this moment countless times, wrestling with the fear of rejection but bolstered by the hope of clarity. He couldn’t just keep guessing; he needed to understand why she had distanced herself.