Silvia's POV
Piper, Xavier's sister, burst into the room like a storm, her fiery spirit evident in every movement. Tall and striking, she was the kind of person you couldn't say no to—a blend of beauty and intensity that made her feel like she had just stepped off the pages of a high-fashion magazine. But right now, she was wielding a pillow like a weapon, whacking me on the head as if it were my fault the world had turned upside down.
"Ow, ow, ow! It hurts, Piper!" I whined, clutching my head, but she wasn't finished.
"Oh, yeah? You should have thought of that before disappearing like that!" she spat, her voice cracking with a mix of anger and hurt. I could see a tear trail down her cheek, and the sight twisted the knife of guilt deeper into my chest. "I looked for you. Everywhere. Even when they told me you died. I still searched for you, even when they said you cheated on my brother. I wanted to help prove your innocence."
Guilt wrapped around me like a suffocating dress, tight and inescapable. I had abandoned everything—her, Xavier, the promise of friendship—all for love that crumbled like ash in my hands. And now, here we were, standing in the aftermath of my mistakes.
"I know, I'm sorry. I know it's not enough, but it won't happen again—at least without you knowing." I meant it. The longing for her friendship had gnawed at me through the years I'd spent hiding from the past.
"You really hurt me, you know?" She looked into my eyes, the pain raw and exposed. "I thought we were friends. You were my best friend! I didn't believe what my parents said about you. I thought you were killed by them, and we were furious! But then we found out you weren't dead. I thought you hated us."
Her words hit me like blows, each one a reminder of the chasm I had created between us. Tears streamed down our faces as we embraced, the dam of our emotions breaking wide open. We held each other, shaking with the weight of our shared sorrow until Piper suddenly pulled back, her expression fierce and determined.
"So, tell me everything—and don't you dare leave out a single detail. Get your ass in the shower, get dressed. I have some clothes for you, and then you're going to spill every bit of your life after you ditched us." Her tone was commanding, her hands gesturing insistently.
"Yes, ma'am!" I saluted, a shaky smile breaking through the tears.
I hopped into the shower, the water cascading over me like a cleansing wave. I hadn't realized how tense I was until the warmth enveloped me, loosening the knots in my muscles. This bathroom was a luxury I had never imagined, spacious and serene, a world apart from the cramped places I'd known.
As I stepped out, I found a pair of familiar clothes waiting for me—an old hoodie that belonged to Xavier and a pair of shorts. Seeing them sparked a bittersweet nostalgia. "He didn't burn it," I whispered to myself, the realization bittersweet.
Piper had set up breakfast for us—a mountain of fluffy pancakes, fresh grapes, an apple, and a steaming kettle that surely contained coffee. My heart ached with the memories of nights spent together, just her and me, talking about everything and nothing. They had been the family I never had.
"Now, sit down and tell me everything!" Piper's voice brooked no argument.
So, I began to recount my story, using the pancakes as a distraction. But when I reached the darker moments—the pain, the betrayal—I faltered. The weight of everything I had endured crashed down on me, and the words turned into a choking silence. I stopped to breathe, my throat constricted.
Piper listened, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I'm sorry you had to go through that, Silvia. But just know I can't forgive you yet. Not after you left us without a word because of a misunderstanding caused by my parents."
"What misunderstanding?" I asked, confusion mingling with fear as I opened my mouth to question her further. But before I could delve deeper, a voice I knew all too well interrupted.
"I see you're feeling a lot better now."
A chill ran down my spine at the deep, familiar voice that sliced through the air. Xavier walked in like a predator, his presence igniting a whirlwind of emotions within me. His hands were shoved deep into his pockets, his shirt clinging to his body like a lover reluctant to let go. Muscles rippled under his skin, each movement captivating and dangerously alluring.
He was more than handsome now—he was a vision of raw masculinity, a striking blend of beauty and danger. The crooked line of his nose, the thin line of his lips pressed into a taut expression, and the scar that ran from beneath his eye to his chin whispered stories of battles fought and won.
I couldn't help but stare, my mouth going dry as I took in the sight of him. This was not the boy I left behind. He had transformed into a man—a demon, maybe, but a beautifully sinful one.
Suddenly, he looked up, and I caught a glimpse of a fleeting smirk, barely there but undeniably present. I narrowed my eyes at him, suppressing the flood of emotions that threatened to consume me.
"Can't you knock? A 'good morning' would be nice!" I shot back, sarcasm dripping from my words. I knew I was pushing my luck, but the defiance was instinctive.
"This is my room," he replied simply, the coldness in his tone sending a shiver through me.
I glanced around, feeling uncomfortably aware of my surroundings. "Why would you put me in your matrimonial room, idiot? What would your wife think?" The words slipped out before I could stop them.
"I'm not married." His voice was low, and a tension I couldn't name filled the space between us.
His admission startled me. I had assumed he'd married the girl my parents mentioned. My mind raced, but before I could articulate my confusion, he advanced toward me, his movements fluid and predatory.
"Did my parents visit you?"
The question hung in the air, heavy with implications.
"Yes. You forgot already. You couldn't handle telling me on your own…" I didn't finish the thought because in a heartbeat, he was in front of me, the distance between us evaporating.
"Was that why you left without a word?" His eyes sparked with something fierce, almost feral.
I held his gaze, refusing to back down, trying to provoke him. But the fire in his eyes flickered with something else—something that felt achingly familiar, something that hinted at the bond we once shared.
"Uhhh… I'm going to go. You guys have fun, yeah?" Piper's voice chimed in as she stood and exited the room, but neither of us noticed her departure. We were lost in a silent battle, our eyes locked in a tense stare.
And then it happened—something I thought was impossible. A flicker of light danced in his eyes, something beyond anger. It was warmth, a spark of the boy I once knew.
"Your eyes…" The realization slipped from my lips, and he didn't deny it. The truth hung heavy between us.
In that moment, everything shifted. The past and present collided, and I felt the walls around my heart tremble, threatening to crumble under the weight of everything unsaid.