Ilyrana's voice broke the silence, soft but firm.
"Luke, turn around."
Luke froze, his mind racing.
"What?" He almost laughed at the absurdity of her request. "Have you lost your mind?"
She didn't falter. Instead, her tone softened even more, almost pleading.
"Please, Luke. Just turn around."
His heart thudded in his chest, his internal debate raging. He had avoided looking at her all this time, partly out of respect and partly because the idea of seeing her like this—vulnerable—felt wrong. And yet, there was something in her voice. Something earnest.
"You're serious?" he asked, his voice edged with disbelief.
"I want to repay you," she said. "And I need you to look at me."
Luke took a deep breath, his resistance crumbling under the weight of her sincerity. Slowly, hesitantly, he began to turn, his gaze firmly fixed downward as he pivoted in the water.
