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Chapter 143: The Invitation

Author: Megan McQueen
last update publish date: 2026-07-07 16:24:01

The silence stretched for so long that Andre almost thought she wouldn't answer him at all. Lucia's hand stayed loosely folded in his, trembling faintly with her gaze past his shoulder at nothing in particular, and when she finally pulled away it wasn't sharp or sudden, just the slow and deliberately careful retreat of someone putting distance back between herself and something she'd let get too close.

"I should finish the bread," she said, turning back to the counter.

"Mother."

"It'll burn if
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