Lila’s POVI couldn’t keep everything bottled up inside anymore. The weight of Theo’s threats, the photos under my door, and the secrets about my grandmother pressed down on me like heavy stones. After breakfast, I found Elena alone in the kitchen garden, pulling weeds from between the tomato plants. She looked up with that warm, knowing smile when she saw me approach.“Morning, dear,” she said, wiping her hands on her apron. “You look like you’ve got the world on your shoulders again. Come sit with me for a minute.”I glanced around to make sure no one else was nearby, then lowered myself onto the wooden bench beside her. My hands twisted in my lap. “Elena, I… I need to talk to someone. Just a little. Things here are getting so complicated.”She nodded slowly and patted my knee. “I figured as much. You’ve been jumping at shadows lately. What’s weighing on you, Lila? You don’t have to tell me everything, but I’m here.”I took a deep breath. The morning sun felt warm on my skin, but it
Last Updated : 2026-07-19 Read more