Chapter 286

• The memory of this morning lingered like a soft, radiant glow within me, a shimmer of warmth that clung to my skin along with the faint sheen of sweat. Each time my thoughts drifted back, a fluttering sensation took root in my stomach, a gentle heat stirring beneath the surface. We’d stolen half an hour to bask in each other's arms, touching and savoring each kiss. It was then that I realized my feelings for Leonardo had shifted, that a closeness had begun to blossom. The old pain from the past—I'd let it go, understanding now that it could only harm me if I allowed it. Life’s mistakes are a bitter part of existence, often hurting the innocent, but I was finally free of them.
• We lingered in bed as long as we could before rising to dress for the day. I slipped into snug pants and a crop top that brushed just above my waist, describing to Leonardo the strange dream that had haunted me. He sat at the edge of the bed, his piercing eyes following my every movement as I smoothed the icy fabric over my chest.
• "Normally, I'd say it’s just a dream," he murmured, his voice low and serious, "but in a place like this, who knows? It’s possible it meant something, especially given how little we understand about Noemi."