The evening settled over the Mwakazi estate like a slow-moving storm.
Not loud.
Not obvious.
But inevitable.
Zara stood by the window in her room, her arms folded loosely, her gaze fixed on the fading light outside. The conversation with Ethan lingered in her mind in a way she hadn’t expected.
He hadn’t questioned her.
Hadn’t doubted her.
Hadn’t even tried to corner her with suspicion the way the others had.
He had simply… seen her.
That made him dangerous.
In a way she hadn’t prepared for.
Her reflection stared back at her faintly in the glass—composed, unreadable, steady.
But behind it, something was shifting.
Something she had spent a long time burying.
A memory.
She closed her eyes.
Just for a second.
But it was enough.
The past came rushing back.
Not this house.
Not this life.
Another place.
Another time.
And him.
A sharp knock broke the moment.
Zara’s eyes opened instantly, her expression resetting before she turned toward the door.
“Yes?”
“It’s me.”
Noah.
Her breath paused—just slightly.
Then steadied.
“Come in.”
The door opened slowly.
Noah stepped inside without hesitation, closing it behind him with quiet precision.
He didn’t speak immediately.
Didn’t move closer.
He simply stood there.
Watching her.
Zara didn’t look away.
“You’ve been avoiding me,” he said finally.
“That’s not true,” she replied calmly.
Noah tilted his head slightly.
“Then what would you call it?”
Zara turned fully to face him.
“Being careful.”
A pause.
Something in his expression shifted.
Not quite anger.
Not quite amusement.
“Good,” he said.
Zara frowned slightly.
“That’s not the reaction I expected.”
Noah stepped forward slowly.
Measured.
Controlled.
“It means you’re...