Maria.
I was still lost in my thoughts when my eyes drifted toward Vanessa. She stood there, poised, fingers lightly resting against Damien's chest, her movements deliberate, calculated, yet dressed in the soft illusion of innocence. Her lips curved into a slight, sweet smile, the kind that seemed harmless at first glance but carried a sharp edge beneath the surface.
She blinked slowly, once, twice, as if considering something trivial, but the tone in her voice betrayed her. "Oh, but isn't that difficult? I wouldn't want her getting into trouble…"
It sounded soft. Careful. Almost concerned. And yet, the words carried a subtle mockery, a hint of challenge hidden in the sweetness. The way she spoke suggested the exact opposite of what she claimed. Her gaze flicked toward me briefly, just enough for her amusement to linger like a shadow over my shoulders.
