Semua Bab Ruined By Desire : Bab 51 - Bab 54

Valentina had been gone for four months.Four long, quiet months in a small coastal city three hours away from the life she had left behind. She had chosen a modest one-bedroom apartment overlooking the sea nothing luxurious, nothing that reminded her of the grand villa with its garden and empty chairs. The rent was affordable on her new café job salary, and the constant sound of waves helped drown out the memories that still haunted her at night.She worked as a barista in a quiet little shop near the boardwalk. The routine was simple: open at 6 a.m., serve coffee and pastries, smile at tourists and locals, close at 4 p.m. Most days she barely spoke beyond taking orders. Her colleagues knew her as the quiet, polite girl who never talked about her past. She preferred it that way.Every evening after work, Valentina walked along the beach. The salt air stung her eyes, but she welcomed the discomfort. It kept her present. It stopped her from slipping back into the memories of stolen kis

Sofia stood at the front door of the villa with her small overnight bag in hand, hesitating for a long moment before she finally turned the key.The familiar click of the lock sounded louder than it should have.She stepped inside and was immediately hit by the scent of lemon cleaner mixed with something warm garlic and herbs. Luca had clearly been cooking. The house was spotless, the floors gleaming, the flowers in the vases fresh. Everything looked exactly as she remembered it, yet nothing felt the same.Luca appeared at the end of the hallway, keeping a respectful distance. He was dressed simply in a gray sweater and jeans, his hair neatly combed. He didn’t move toward her or try to hug her.“Welcome home,” he said quietly, his voice calm and low. “I prepared your room exactly as you left it. Your favorite pasta is almost ready if you’re hungry. I’ll stay out of your way as much as you need.”Sofia nodded once, not quite meeting his eyes.“Thank you,” she murmured.She walked past