I made my way up the stairs at a slow pace, my attention glued to my phone as I absentmindedly read the annoying text from my uncle about yet another mess he'd gotten himself into.

With my other hand stuffed into my pocket, I barely noticed how my footsteps echoed in the empty hallway, each step feeling heavier as his complaints filled my mind.

As I reached the top, I let out a frustrated sigh, rolling my eyes before shutting my phone off and jamming it into my pocket.

The door to Elora's room stood closed, and for a moment, I hesitated. I knocked twice before calling out to her, her name leaving my lips in a soft, almost tentative call. The silence on the other side stretched, making the hallway feel even quieter.

When she didn't answer, I paused, my hand hovering over the doorknob. After a second of deliberation, I turned the handle, the door creaking slightly as I pushed it open and stepped inside.

I hadn't spoken to her in three days after unexpectedly running into her at Daylen's hotel the other night.

She's been avoiding me since then, and I could tell it was out of embarrassment-her face said it all. I was just as shocked to see her there as she was to see me.

I wasn't expecting it, not in the slightest. Sure, I had noticed the way she'd steal glances at him when he passed by, thinking no one noticed. I always suspected she might have a soft spot for him. But seeing her with him-it irritated on me for reasons I couldn't fully explain.

Anyone but him.

Daylen is my colleague, and I've known him long enough to be familiar with his reputation. And trust me, it's not a good one.

"Lora, girasole?" I called out, scanning the room for her, but got no reply. That's when I spotted her, sitting cross-legged on the floor, a large canvas propped up in front of her.

She was painting a serene landscape-lush green fields blending into a golden horizon under a soft, fading sunset. Her headphones were plugged in, drowning out everything around her.

Kain, who never seemed to leave her side, was curled up beside her, his head resting on her lap as he slept soundly.

A warmth spread through my chest at the sight. She looked so peaceful, humming softly along to a song I didn't recognize, completely lost in her world of colors and quiet.

I walked up behind her and gently tapped her on the shoulder, but it startled her more than I anticipated. She flinched, causing Kain to wake and lift his head groggily.

Her tension eased the moment she saw me. She slid her headphones off, streaking them with paint from her stained fingers, but she didn't seem to care.

"What's up?" she asked, her voice light, though I noticed the hint of uncertainty.

She absentmindedly wiped her cheek with the back of her wrist, only to smear more paint across her face.

I smiled, reaching out to gently wipe the paint from her skin with the pad of my thumb, my gaze meeting her soft hazel eyes, filled with confusion.

"I'm just checking on you," I said, my voice low, trying to read her expression.

"You're... not mad at me?" she asked, her brow furrowing slightly.

"I'm not mad at you," I said, shaking my head slowly.

She looked up at me, her expression shifting between surprise and confusion, though I could see a trace of relief in her eyes.

I settled onto the floor beside her, stretching my legs out as I tried to ease the tension in the air.

"I get you, Lora," I began, my voice soft but steady. "I know you'll do anything to protect yourself and the people you care about."

Her gaze faltered, and her eyes grew distant, filled with a sadness she tried to hide. She turned back to her canvas, continuing to paint, but I knew she was still listening. The brushstrokes became slower, more deliberate.

I could tell where her thoughts had gone-to Elijah. Her brother had been missing for so long, and every day without him tore at her.

The desperation to find him was written all over her face. She'd go to the ends of the earth to bring him back, and I knew that. It's what drove her.

"But you've got to understand something, Lora," I added, inching closer to her. "I care about you, too. The only reason I get on your case is because I want you to be safe."

Her hand paused mid-stroke, and for a moment, neither of us spoke. Then, she glanced at me sideways, the corner of her mouth twitching into the faintest smile.

We kept talking after that, our conversation weaving between serious and lighthearted. At some point, Kain let out a loud snore, startling both of us and himself. She laughed softly, shaking her head.

"If only you cared as much as Kain does," she teased, nudging me playfully with her elbow.

I smirked, leaning back on my elbows. "Oh, trust me, if I could nap through your nonsense, I would."

She rolled her eyes, but I could see the tension was gone now, replaced by something softer-something easier.

••☆••

After leaving Elora's house, I headed straight to the church, knowing I needed to deal with the latest mess my uncle had gotten himself into.

As soon as I arrived, I found myself in a heated, hour-long argument with him. It was followed by a meeting with the other priests and nuns, which dragged on for another hour or two, filled with endless back-and-forth discussions.

Now, I'm sitting in my office, staring down at the contract in my hands-the one my uncle had foolishly signed without bothering to read a single word.

Of course, whoever handed it to him likely dangled the prospect of money in front of his face, and that was all it took.

The man's a greedy fool, always chasing after a quick buck, no matter the cost.

I shook my head in disappointment and let out a loud, frustrated sigh as I finished reading through the ridiculous terms.

The contract was a financial disaster-a long-term lease agreement that handed over part of the church's land for a shady construction project.

It would not only violate the sanctity of the grounds but also lock the church into years of legal battles, bleeding us dry financially. And for what? A quick payout.

Slamming the papers onto the desk, I stood up abruptly, pacing back and forth in front of it, the frustration boiling over.

"How can one person be so stupid?" I muttered to myself, running a hand through my hair.

I'd always wondered why my mother, in all her wisdom, passed the church down to him after she died. The place would've been in far better hands if she hadn't.

This church meant something to our family's legacy, a place of refuge for the community. And he was throwing it all away.

Before I could dwell any further, the door to my office burst open without warning.

"Fernando!" Gabriel called out, stepping in without so much as a knock.

"Don't you know how to knock?" I kept my voice steady, though the irritation pulsing through my veins made it impossible to fully mask my frustration. I watched as he lingered in the doorway, a self-satisfied grin on his face.

"Good morning to you too," he said, striding into the room as if he owned the place. His eyes wandered over my walls, landing on the framed paintings I had hung with care. "I was just passing through, admiring your décor. Quite impressive. You've really outdone yourself."

I gritted my teeth, unwilling to engage in pleasantries. "What do you want, Nelson?" I called him by his last name.

Gabriel chuckled, ignoring my clear disdain. "Relax, Fernando. I was just curious. Where did you get these pieces? They're... striking." He leaned in to examine one of the canvases, pretending as though his interest was genuine.

"Elora painted them," I replied, my voice firm.

His smile faltered for a split second, replaced by a sneer. "Elora, huh?" he said with a slow nod, clearly displeased. "Should've known. The girl who's always around but never belongs."

My irritation bubbled to the surface. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Gabriel took his time turning to face me, crossing his arms over his chest. "It means she's bad news, Fernando. I don't understand why you keep her around. She's not like us, and she never will be. A stray from Canada? Please. You're wasting your time."

I tensed at his words. "You don't know anything about Elora, and you sure as hell don't know our relationship."

"Oh, I know enough. She's a distraction. Always has been." He smirked. "You could surround yourself with anyone-any woman-but you're fixated on someone who's got trouble written all over her. Is it pity, Fernando? Or something else?"

My blood boiled, and I took a step forward. "Elora is my best friend, and she's more talented and loyal than anyone you could ever hope to meet. You don't get to talk about her like that, especially not in my home."

Gabriel's face darkened, his eyes glinting with disapproval. "You're blind to it, nephew. That girl is dragging you down, and you're too wrapped up in your own nonsense to see it. How do you think it looks to the family? To the church?"

"I don't care how it looks!" I shot back, my fists clenching at my sides. "You think you have the right to judge her because she doesn't fit into your perfect little world? Elora is real, and I don't care about your precious reputation."

Gabriel's jaw clenched, his voice dropping to a low, dangerous tone. "You should care. You have responsibilities. And if you keep letting Elora hang around, you'll lose everything you've worked for. She's going to be your downfall, Fernando. Mark my words."

The tension between us was thick, suffocating. My chest heaved as I struggled to contain the anger surging inside me.

"You're wrong," I muttered through gritted teeth. "Elora is the one person who's stood by me through everything. She's not the problem here-you are."

Gabriel's eyes hardened, but he didn't respond. Without another word, he turned on his heel and stalked out of the room, leaving the air heavy with unresolved tension.

As soon as Gabriel walked out, I let out a heavy sigh, running a hand through my hair. The tension still lingered, thick in the air, but the silence was a welcome relief. I stared at the door for a moment longer before shaking my head.

Elora will be your downfall. What a load of crap.

I barely had time to collect my thoughts before Teresa came strolling in, her eyebrows raised like she could sense the storm that had just blown through.

"So... what did your favorite uncle have to say this time?" she asked, leaning against the doorframe with that playful smile she always wore, though there was a glint of curiosity in her eyes.

"Oh, you know, the usual," I replied, waving a hand dismissively. "I'm apparently ruining my life by being friends with Elora. He's convinced she's going to send me spiraling into doom or something."

Teresa raised an eyebrow, walking over and plopping down on the couch beside me. "Really? Again with the Elora thing? Is he obsessed, or just incredibly boring?"

"Definitely leaning towards obsession," I said, shaking my head. "It's like he can't think of anything else when it comes to me. Elora's public enemy number one in his world."

"Maybe he needs a hobby," Teresa teased, throwing her legs over my lap. "I hear knitting's relaxing."

I chuckled, feeling some of the weight lift off my chest. "Yeah, I'll buy him some yarn next time I see him."

She grinned. "And we'll sign him up for a 'How Not to Be a Judgmental Jerk' course."

"Do they offer a lifetime subscription for that?" I asked, smirking.

Before Teresa could fire back with another sarcastic quip, my phone buzzed on the coffee table, interrupting us. I glanced at the screen and frowned. An unknown number.

For a second, I thought about ignoring it, but something made me pick it up.

"Hello?" I answered, curiosity tugging at me.

There was a brief pause, and then a voice I hadn't expected to hear came through the line. "Fernando?"

I blinked, pulling the phone away from my ear to double-check the number before putting it back. "Freya?"

Teresa gave me a confused look, mouthing, "Freya?"

I shrugged, equally baffled. Freya and I barely tolerated each other on a good day, and we sure as hell didn't call each other. "Uh, yeah, it's me. What's going on? Why are you calling?"

On the other end, Freya's voice was shaky, something I'd never heard from her before. "Something... something's wrong, Fernando."

My pulse quickened, and I sat up straight. "What do you mean? What happened?"

There was a long pause, and just as I opened my mouth to push for more answers, she said something that sent a chill down my spine.

"It's Elora. Something happened to Elora. I think someone took her."

My heart stopped.

"Freya, what the hell are you talking about?"

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