Zara's eyes fluttered open, her heart pounding against her ribs. The word "sweetheart" kept ringing in her ears.
It was the first time Nathaniel had ever called her that. Did he truly mean it, or had it slipped out without thought?
Her mind spun in turmoil. Earlier that morning, he had avoided answering Eugen's question about whether he loved her. Yet now, here he was, calling her by an endearment that hinted that he had feelings for her.
'Does he actually feel something for me? Has his heart begun to change?' she wondered restlessly.
But another question gnawed at her. If he did love her, why had he hesitated earlier? Was he hiding something from her?
The more she tried to make sense of it, the more tangled her thoughts became. 'I don't know… I shouldn't think about it anymore.'
She shut her eyes tight, forcing herself to stay still, but no matter how hard she tried, sleep refused to come.
The next morning…
