The soft, golden morning light filtered through the tall dining room windows, washing the table in a warm glow that didn’t match the tension sitting like a heavy weight on my chest. The breakfast spread slled inviting fresh pastries, fruits, warm oats, and eggs but none of it reached .
I all felt numb.
Liam helped into my seat, his hand steady on my shoulder before he quietly sat beside .
Across the table, Nix sliced another piece of apple with a slow, practiced movent. He didn’t look at not once. He kept his attention fixed on the fruit in front of him, blade gliding cleanly through each slice, his expression unreadable and painfully calm.
As if avoiding my eyes would make disappear.
As if even acknowledging would hurt too much.
I stared at him, silently begging him to look up to give anything, even anger.
But all I got was silence.
My heart tightened, a small ache spreading through my ribs. I blinked, as fresh tears burned their way into my vision. Not enough to fall... but enough to sting.
I tried to swallow, but my throat felt too tight.
Zamiel’s quiet laughter filled the room as he played with Nyxella, his voice gentle as he held her spoon and pretended it was a little bird feeding her. She squealed, kicking her tiny legs, the sound bright and innocent.
I should have smiled.
But instead... everything inside twisted.
Because while she giggled, Nix finally reached for his smug, his hand steady, movents composed and Nyxella’s eyes lit up instantly.
"Da–!" she squealed, stretching her little arms toward him from her highchair.
Her voice was tiny, but it sliced through the room like a blade.
Nix froze.
Just for a breath.
His composure cracked barely but I saw it. The faint tremor in his fingers. The slight hitch of his breath. Then, slowly, he set his mug down and turned his gaze toward her.
Not .
Her.
Nyxella stretched again, her little hands opening and closing, desperate for him.
"Da! Da!"
It was the first ti she had ever called for him so clearly.
The sound broke sothing in .
Nix rose from his seat calmly as if he weren’t unraveling inside and walked around the table. He lifted her gently from the highchair, tucking her into his arms with a tenderness that tightened my throat. Nyxella settled instantly against his chest, nuzzling into him, one small fist gripping the collar of his shirt.
He pressed a soft, trembling kiss to her hair.
Still... he did not look at .
Not even once.
I felt the sting of rejection like a physical blow. My breath grew uneven, my fingers curling into fists beneath the tablecloth as I tried.. I honestly tried so hard to keep myself steady.
But my eyes blurred again.
And this ti I couldn’t hide it.
A single tear slipped free, sliding down my cheek before I could blink it away. I lowered my gaze, staring at my untouched plate as the ache in my chest deepened into sothing sharp, almost unbearable.
I heard Nyxella babbling softly against Nix’s shoulder.
I heard him hush her with a whisper so gentle it hurt.
And I felt myself breaking quietly in the middle of a breakfast table that looked far too peaceful for the war happening behind my ribs.
Nix didn’t linger.
He kept Nyxella tucked against his chest, murmuring sothing soft to her as he stepped away from the dining table. His movents were calm.. too calm. The kind of stillness that cos when soone has shut every emotion behind a locked door.
He didn’t spare a glance in my direction
Not even one and the distance in his silence felt heavier than any words he could have thrown at .
I watched he habded Nyxella’s back to Zamiel, her tiny hand gripping the collar of his shirt as she rested her cheek against him. Her little voice babbled softly, unaware of the storm between us... her parents. My heart clenched so hard it hurtz but he eventually handed her to Zamiel and took his leave.
Liam, who had been watching quietly, let out a slow breath, one filled with frustration, helplessness, and protective anger. His eyes flicked between and Nix’s disappearing figure, and sothing hardened in his expression.
He pushed back his chair abruptly. "We’re leaving," was all he said
Zamiel looked up, surprised. "Now?"
"Yes," Liam snapped quietly. "Before breakfast."
His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried enough authority to silence the room. He stood, walked to my side, and helped up without asking. His hand on my arm was gentle but firm like he was afraid I might collapse again if he let go.
"Co on," he said softly, taking Nyxella from Zamile, "you’ve had enough for today."
I didn’t argue and neither did I speak.
I simply let him guide out, my legs heavy, and my chest felt hollow. Each step away from the dining hall felt like another crack spreading through , another piece of myself falling behind.
Liam stayed close, his jaw clenched, as if he was fighting the urge to turn back and confront Nix but he didn’t. He only tightened his hold on .
By the ti we reached the car, the air was cool and quiet. I sank into the seat without a word, staring blankly ahead while Liam made calls to the crew.
Within the hour, the private jet Nix had arranged was prepared.
Boarding was quiet. Almost eerily that I did not look back at the estate as we drove off not even once. In no ti we had arrived at the airport and had boarded the jet.
The jet lifted into the air, and with it, the last of my strength drifted away.
The hum of the engines filled the silence, but no one spoke.
Liam kept glancing at as he played with Nyxella but still worry carved deep into his features, which I didn’t react to. I didn’t even blink away the tears that dried on my skin.
I wasn’t crying anymore but I wasn’t just doing anything.
I sat in my seat like a shadow breathing, but not living. I didn’t eat and neither did I sleep.
I didn’t even respond when Liam covered my shoulders with a blanket or when Zamiel asked quietly if I needed anything, it was as if the world around didn’t exist.
My mind was sowhere far behind them. Still sowhere in the greenhouse, at the dining hall and sowhere in the silence I and Nix couldn’t cross.
By the ti the jet touched down in Italy, the sun was high and bright but I felt none of its warmth.
I descended the stairs quietly, my expression remained pale and empty. Sia and Kiara were waiting near the car, waving and smiling at first until they saw my expression.. I guess
"Sister?" Sia whispered, her brows knitting together.
"Elisa what happened?" Kiara stepped forward, reaching out.
But I walked past them without a word. I neither spoke throughout our drive ho and neither did I say a word even after we arrived. I just went straight through the doors, up the stairs and into my room. Shutting the door behind
"What’s going on?" Sia murmured outside my door, her voice tight with worry.
"She didn’t even say hello," Kiara whispered barely, but I still heard it through the wood. "Sothing’s wrong. Really wrong, Liam."
Their footsteps retreated down the hallway, fading into silence. I waited until even their whispers disappeared before I let out the breath I’d been holding.
My back pressed harder against the door, and I slid downward slowly, helplessly, until I was seated on the cold floor. My palms rested limply on my thighs as my head fell forward.
For a long mont, I didn’t move.
I didn’t blink.
I didn’t breathe properly.
I just stared at nothing.
At the empty space in front of .
The cold, hollow ache spreading through my bones.
At the truth I couldn’t escape.
I had left Nix’s estate.
I had walked out of his ho.
But my heart...
My heart was still there, trembling in the quiet pain of that mont
that exact mont
when he walked away without a word
My throat tightened.
And the tears I’d been holding back finally spilled.
I covered my mouth with both hands, muffling the sob that tore free from deep inside . My chest shook as I leaned forward, curling into myself, crying harder than I had since the greenhouse.
I cried like everything hurt.
Because it did.
A sudden knock made flinch violently.
I gasped, wiping at my face quickly, my tears blurring the world.
Another knock, polite but firm.
"Madam?" a maid called from the other side. "Master requests your presence in the study."
My heart dropped, and panic rushed up my spine so fast I felt dizzy.
Father
He never called for unless it was important very important.
My breath stuttered.
Why now?
Did he know?
Did soone tell him?
Did Nix contact him?
Did he know everything that happened?
"No, no... not now..." I whispered shakily, pushing my hair back with trembling fingers. "Not now, please..."
Another soft knock.
"Madam? He says it’s urgent."
My stomach twisted painfully.
Urgent.
That word alone sent fresh fear spilling through my veins. My hands shook as I pushed myself off the floor, pressing a palm against my mouth to quiet my breathing.
What if Nix had already said sothing?
What if the truth had reached Italy faster than I had?
What if he decides to...
No.. please no
My pulse hamred in my ears.
I swallowed hard, forcing my voice to steady failing miserably.
"I’ll... I’ll be there," I managed, barely audible.
My legs wobbled as I moved toward the door.
Every step felt like walking toward judgnt, toward exposure, toward sothing I wasn’t ready to face.
And as I reached for the doorknob, another thought struck cold, harsh, terrifying
What if Nix wasn’t the only one I was about to lose?
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