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🌙 Chapter 3 – Eyes That Avoided Answers
The next morning felt different.
Not louder.
Not brighter.
Just… aware.
Noah Watson walked down the stairs with a book clutched to her chest, her hair loosely tied, her mind still stuck on the quiet conversation from the balcony the night before. She hadn't slept well. Luca Fernandes' words kept replaying—some things can't stay buried forever.
In the kitchen, Sofia Watson was already there, scrolling on her phone.
"You look like you didn't sleep," Sofia said without looking up.
"I slept," Noah replied. "Just… lightly."
Sofia smirked. "Sure. Balcony-boy effect?"
Noah shot her a warning glance. "Stop."
Before Sofia could tease her more, footsteps echoed from the hallway.
Luca Fernandes entered the kitchen.
Noah instinctively looked down at her book.
Luca noticed.
"Morning," he said calmly.
Sofia smiled brightly. "Morning. Coffee?"
"Yes, please."
As Sofia busied herself, an awkward silence settled between Noah and Luca—thick, unspoken, almost deliberate.
"You avoid eye contact when you're thinking," Luca said suddenly.
Noah looked up, startled. "What?"
He met her gaze fully this time. "Last night. And now."
Her fingers tightened around the book.
"Maybe I don't like people reading me."
"Maybe," he replied. "Or maybe you're scared they already have."
That hit closer than she expected.
Before she could respond, Adrien Fernandes burst into the kitchen, energy filling the space instantly.
"Good morning, beautiful people!" Adrien said, grinning. His eyes landed on Noah. "You're up early."
She smiled politely. "Couldn't sleep."
Adrien softened. "Same. New places do that."
Luca watched the exchange silently, something unreadable flickering in his eyes.
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Later that day, the group decided to step out together—Eva, Emily, Mike, and Alic joined them at a quiet café not far from the house.
Noah sat between Eva and Emily, listening more than speaking.
"So," Mike said, leaning back, "are we just ignoring the fact that two entire families reunited after years?"
Emily laughed. "Mike, you have zero filter."
Eva glanced at Noah. "You okay?"
Noah nodded. "Yeah. Just thinking."
Adrien leaned forward. "About what?"
She hesitated. "About how some people enter your life like they've always belonged there."
Adrien smiled gently. "That's not always a bad thing."
Across the table, Luca didn't say a word—but his eyes stayed on Noah, steady and intense, like he was memorizing something he feared losing.
From a distance, unnoticed by them all, Alina sat in her car across the street, watching the café.
Her eyes narrowed when she saw Noah laughing softly at something Adrien said—and Luca looking at her like the world had reduced itself to one person.
"So it's her," Alina murmured.
She picked up her phone and typed a message.
I'm back. And I won't let this repeat.
Inside the café, Noah suddenly felt uneasy—like someone had spoken her name without sound.
She looked up.
Luca met her eyes instantly.
And in that moment, they both understood something neither was ready to admit yet—
This wasn't coincidence.
This was history waking up.
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