Все главы The silence between us : Глава 1 - Глава 7

Lucy Benjamin stood at the edge of the grand marble aisle, her hands trembling around the bouquet of white peonies her sister’s favorite, not hers. A gilded chandelier glittered above, raining light over the hushed guests who turned their heads in quiet confusion. No one said it aloud, but everyone knew: she wasn't supposed to be the bride.Her heart thundered in her chest like a prisoner begging for release. The cathedral in Florence, ancient and cold, smelled faintly of incense and fading roses. It was beautiful. Imposing. Hollow.She clutched the lace of the dress tighter. It didn't fit perfectly; it had been altered last minute. Because she wasn't supposed to wear it. Her stepsister, Serena, had vanished the night before, leaving nothing but a scribbled note and a legacy of cowardice."Lucy, go," John whispered from behind. His voice was gentle, but firm, like a push wrapped in a hug. Her stepbrother, the only one who seemed to care. The only one who didn't treat her like a pawn.

Chapter Three: The Vineyard and the VowThe flight to Spain was as quiet as everything else between them.Gabriel's private jet was a sleek marvel of wealth champagne leather, polished oak, a silence so dense it pressed into Lucy's chest. She sat near the window, watching the clouds slice past, her fingers tight around the leather armrest. Across from her, Gabriel read from a thick portfolio, as if she weren’t even there.But he had noticed her. She could feel it.Once, during turbulence, her hand jerked and brushed his knee. He didn't pull away, but he also didn’t react. That indifference hurt worse than hatred.By the time they touched down, dusk had painted the Spanish countryside in copper and gold. The vineyard estate stood on a gentle hill, surrounded by endless rows of vines that glistened in the low light. It was beautiful. Untamed. Almost peaceful.Gabriel led her through the gates without speaking. The staff greeted them in hushed tones. Lucy caught no warm glances or curiou

Lucy woke with a sense of warmth curled inside her chest. It lingered like the memory of Gabriel’s kiss gentle, unsure, and entirely unforgettable. She touched her lips with trembling fingers, trying to hold onto it before reality crept in.Outside, the vineyard was still asleep, dew glittering on the vines. The silence of morning felt different now not hollow, but full of unspoken things. Possibilities.Gabriel was nowhere to be seen at breakfast. Elena served her quietly, offering a kind smile but no answers. Lucy didn’t ask.She wandered the estate, notebook in hand, sketching roses, scribbling scattered thoughts. Her mind wasn’t calm it churned. The kiss had changed things, shifted something delicate between them. But what would Gabriel do with that shift? Return to silence? Or step closer?As she rounded a corner near the old stable, a voice stopped her."You’re not what I expected."Lucy turned sharply. A woman leaned against the stone wall, dressed in a form-fitting navy dress,

The morning sun spilled over the hills of Tuscany, golden light washing over the vineyard. The estate was unnaturally quiet, but Lucy felt the tremors under the stillness. Something was coming. She could feel it deep in her bones.Gabriel was already gone again when she awoke. His side of the bed was cold. No note. No call. It was beginning to feel like a pattern absence as presence, silence as communication. She couldn’t decide if it made her angry or just sad.She dressed slowly, deliberately. Cream blouse. Beige trousers. No makeup, but she brushed her hair with care. A warrior dressing for a battle she didn’t yet understand. Her thoughts lingered on Patricia’s threats, on the power Gabriel had unknowingly or knowingly given her. It was all fragile. Illusionary. Love laced with the scent of deception.Downstairs, Elena appeared with a nervous expression. "Señora Joana is waiting in the tea room."Lucy paused. "She asked for me?""She insisted."Her pulse thudded. Another test. Anot