Olivia sat stiffly in the chair, her bag resting by her feet, her notebook open on the desk. She had been here countless times before, but that day felt different. The walls of Julian’s house looked the same, lined with tall bookshelves, worn leather bindings, the faint scent of old paper but the atmosphere was heavy, as though the silence itself had weight.Julian sat opposite her, his hands folded loosely, his gaze fixed on her in that way that always seemed to peel back her defenses. He had given her personal study assignments before, but that day, there was no preamble, no polite warmth in his tone.“You know why you’re here,” he said softly.Olivia swallowed, her throat dry. She nodded, trying to hide the nervous flutter in her chest.“To learn,” she answered, her voice barely above a whisper.His lips curved in something that was not quite a smile. “Not just to learn, Olivia. To obey. To grow beyond the classroom.”The way he said it, measured, deliberate, sent a current of conf
Last Updated : 2025-09-02 Read more