At the end of the dinner, Kael paid the bill without hesitation, and as we stepped outside the restaurant, he gently extended his hand toward me to help me down the marble stairs, his gesture natural yet elegant, like something he had done a thousand times before.
I smiled and accepted, feeling a soft warmth grow inside me, a strange but comforting feeling that I couldn't quite explain, as if his presence alone made everything feel lighter.
Despite the small stains still marking my dress from earlier, my attention remained entirely on him, on the way he stayed close, on the way he guided me carefully down each step like a true gentleman.
The Rolls-Royce was already waiting for us in front of the restaurant.
The eyes of strangers followed us.
Whispers, curiosity… attention.
But somehow, none of it mattered.
Kael opened the car door for me, stepping aside slightly as he invited me in with a quiet politeness.
"Thank you" I said with a soft smile before entering.
He joined me shortly after, and the ride back felt shorter than before, filled with light conversation between us and the driver, the kind of calm discussion that made time pass without even noticing.
When we arrived near his estate, he stepped out first once again, opening my door before I could even move, then offering his hand to help me out.
"Thank you… tonight was really nice" I said sincerely.
"I'll walk you home" he replied immediately."It's too dark… and it's still a bit far."
He didn't let go of my hand.
Not even for a second.
And when I looked up at him, I could feel the intensity in his gaze, something deeper than simple politeness.
"That sounds perfect" I answered softly.
The driver left to park the car while Kael and I walked together toward the small bridge that separated our lands, the quiet sound of our خطوات mixing with the soft night breeze, the sky above us dark but peaceful.
As we approached my house, we stopped near the entrance.
I turned toward him with a smile.
"Thank you again… for tonight."
He smiled back.
"I could show you all of Italy at this rate… just by wanting to spend time with you."
A slight blush appeared on my cheeks.
"That wouldn't bother me at all… actually, I'd love to travel around the country."
For a moment, we stayed there, sharing that quiet happiness, that simple conversation that already felt like something more.
Until...
The front door suddenly opened.
"Liora?"
My heart dropped.
I turned around immediately.
My father.
Ricardo.
"Oh-Dad… everything's fine?" I said quickly.
He looked at me, then at Kael standing beside me, his expression shifting into confusion.
"Good evening" he said, addressing him.
Kael raised his eyebrows slightly before stepping forward politely.
"Good evening, sir," he replied with a calm smile, extending his hand."I'm your neighbor."
My father hesitated for a fraction of a second, his brows tightening… before forcing a smile and shaking his hand.
Behind him, through the kitchen window
I saw Giulia.
Watching.
Panic rushed through me.
I made quick gestures toward her, trying to get her attention, silently begging her to do something, anything, to stop this conversation before it went too far.
She understood immediately.
And suddenly
"RICARDO!!! Come quickly!" she shouted from inside the house.
My father turned his head toward the voice, distracted, then looked back at Kael.
"I didn't know you were one of our neighbors. You're welcome here… Mister?"
"Kael Carter" he replied with a polite smile."Nice to meet you."
Silence.
The expression on my father's face froze.
Shock.
A tension so sudden it felt like the air itself had changed.
"Carter…?" he repeated slowly, as if he hadn't heard correctly.
"Yes?" Kael answered, confused.
For a brief second, something dark crossed my father's eyes.
Then
He smiled again. Fake and controlled....
"Very well. Have a good evening."
He turned to me to come inside.
Kael looked at me.
I looked at him.
Neither of us understood what had just happened but something was clearly wrong.
"Goodnight, Liora," he said softly.
"Goodnight…" I replied before stepping inside.
The door closed behind me.
Giulia stood there, her hand covering her mouth, her eyes wide.
I avoided her gaze and looked down, removing my shoes slowly, trying to calm the tension building inside me.
My father remained still.
Facing the door.
His hand resting on the handle.
We all watched him in silence.
Waiting.
Then slowly
He turned around.
His eyes locked on mine.
"Carter… huh?"
My throat tightened.
"Yes…?"
He placed the keys down on the table.
Then, without another word, he began walking toward the stairs.
"Thank you."
Confusion.
Total.
I looked at Giulia, she looked just as lost.
As he continued climbing the stairs, his voice echoed one last time through the house
"Carter…"
A pause.
"…they're never far, are they."