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CHAPTER FOURTY THREE

last update publish date: 2026-06-23 04:12:33

I slowly placed my phone aside, then reached into my bag. "I still have something they left behind."

I pulled out a silver chain. The metal had faded over the years, but I kept it polished as much as possible. "My parents gave it to me before they died.”

Leonardo studied it carefully.

I wrapped my fingers around the pendant.

"I don't even remember most of that day anymore.” My voice shook. "I was too young.”

Then Leonardo quietly asked, "What happened?”

"My parents supposedly died in a car acci
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    RILEY'S POV After my shower, I changed into a simple pair of jeans and a loose blouse before picking up my phone from the bedside table.I had a message from Leonardo: I know you need space. I won't force you to come back. But when you're ready to talk, I'll be here.I read it twice, then let my thumb hover over the reply box.There were too many things I wanted to say, and none of them felt simple enough to type. I wanted to ask why he had waited two weeks before telling me. I wanted to tell him how much it hurt to hear everything from Natalia instead of him. I wanted to hear him say that none of this had changed what he felt for me. Most of all, I wanted to tell him that I missed him.I opened the keyboard and typed the words. I miss you. I stared at them for several seconds before deleting them.I typed again: I'm still angry. I deleted that too.In the end, I locked my phone and slipped it into my pocket.I was not ready to talk to Leonardo, no matter how much a part of me wanted

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    The knock came again. I stood in the middle of the room, breath uneven and my palms damp, I stared at the door contemplating whether to open the door or not. I reached for the door knob, my fingers trembling, I twisted the door knob and the door swung open. Leonardo stood there, his expression u

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