The gentle morning light poured through the tall windows, filling the room with a warm glow.
Amara shifted beneath the soft silk sheets, slowly blinking as she adjusted to her surroundings. For a brief moment, she lost track of where she was. The bed felt too plush, the air was heavy with the scent of sandalwood, and the warm presence beside her was strange.
Then everything came flooding back.
Leonardo.
Her heart skipped a beat, and a wave of panic surged within her. She tilted her head slightly and saw him still asleep. His usually serious face appeared more relaxed in slumber, his jaw loose and lips slightly parted, as if he had finally found peace. For a man who bore the responsibilities of empires, he seemed remarkably ordinary at that moment.
Amara remained still, watching him. A pang of guilt tugged at her thoughts, memories of Daniel, feelings of betrayal, and all those lost years. But there was also a sense of safety. For the first time in a long while, she had slept without nightmares.
As if he sensed her watching, Leonardo's eyes slowly opened, locking onto hers, and a gentle smile spread across his face.
"Good morning," he said softly, his voice raspy from sleep.
Amara's breath hitched. "Good morning."
For a moment, they were silent, simply sharing a fragile and intimate stillness that felt both comforting and nerve-wracking.
Leonardo reached out to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
"I feel like I have," she confessed quietly. "I don't even know who I am right now."
He propped himself up on one elbow, searching her eyes. "Then let's discover it together."
Something inside her opened up. Tears welled up, not from hurt but from the scary possibility of hope. She didn't pull her hand away when he took it under the sheets, warm and reassuring.
And for the first time, she allowed herself to smile.
Leonardo quietly got up from the bed before Amara could say anything, moving easily and slowly. She propped herself up, holding the sheet tightly to her chest, suddenly feeling exposed.
"Stay," he said softly, looking back at her while putting on a loose shirt. "I'll have breakfast sent up. Unless..." he gave her a playful grin," ...you
want to come downstairs and be the guest of honor?"
Amara felt her cheeks heat up. "Guest of honor?
I think I've already given you enough trouble."
"Trouble?" He chuckled lightly, a warm sound that filled the room. "You're the best kind of trouble I've ever encountered."
His words made her heart race, and she quickly looked away, unable to hold his gaze.
Compliments from Daniel had always felt manipulative, like weapons disguised as sweet words. But from Leonardo... it felt different.
Risky, yes, but genuine.
A moment later, there was a knock at the door.
A servant entered with a silver tray that held warm croissants, fresh fruit, hot coffee, and a pitcher of juice. Amara blinked in surprise she hadn't had breakfast in bed since she was a kid.
Leonardo waved the servant away and brought the tray over to her. "Eat," he instructed gently, placing it in front of her. "You need your strength."
Amara hesitated. "I usually don't eat much in the mornings."
"Today's different," he said, offering her a plate with a quiet insistence, waiting for her to take it.
His eyes didn't leave hers, as if her simply eating in his company meant something significant to him.
She nibbled on the croissant, feeling anxious under his gaze, but the buttery flavor melted in her mouth. It was warm, rich, and comforting.
She closed her eyes, enjoying the taste. When she opened them again, Leonardo was still watching her, looking softer than she had ever seen him.
"What?" she asked, feeling shy.
"Nothing," he replied, leaning back. "I just... like seeing you enjoy something without fear."
Her throat tightened at the mention of fear.
That word constantly lingered in her life like a shadow. "I don't know how to be that woman anymore," she whispered.
"You don't need to know right now," he
reassured her. "Just allow yourself to try."
His simple words hit her harder than any grand statement. She realized she was breathing easier around him, as if the walls she had built were starting to crumble.
Silence returned between them, but it felt comfortable. Amara found herself looking at him more often, noticing how the morning light danced on his dark hair and how relaxed he seemed in a world where she still felt lost.
Then, out of nowhere, guilt washed over her.
Daniel-her husband, or soon-to-be ex-husband.
His face flashed in her mind, not from love but from habit. For so long, her life had been tied to his moods, his betrayals, his control. Even now, he haunted her.
Leonardo must have sensed her change in thought. He leaned forward, speaking quietly.
"He doesn't deserve space in your mind, Amara."
Her gaze snapped to his. "How do you know what I was thinking?"
He smiled faintly. "Because I know what it's like to be haunted by someone who tried to break you."
She froze, surprised by his honesty. "Someone broke you
He looked away for the first time, his jaw tightening. "Once. A long time ago." Then, softer, he added, "But I don't live under their shadow anymore, and neither will you."
His words felt like a promise, washing over her.
For the first time in years, Amara believed that rebuilding was possible-not just surviving.
She set her plate down, her appetite fading-not from discomfort, but from the whirlwind of emotions inside her. Slowly, she looked up at him. "I'm scared, Leonardo."
He didn't flinch or dismiss her fear. Instead, he reached across the tray and took her hand, steady and reassuring. "Then let me be scared with you."
Her heart ached, the walls inside her widening.
She hadn't realized how much she wanted someone to share her burden.
The sun climbed higher, warming the room, but Amara barely noticed. All she felt was the weight of his hand, the steadiness of his presence. For the first time, morning didn't seem like just another day to endure.
It felt like the start of something new.