"I don't think you came here just for the art, Ms. Carter," Alexander said, his voice low and deliberate. "I think there's something more."
Sophia's heart skipped a beat. She opened her mouth, but no words came out. She had spent the last two years trying to bury the secret, trying to convince herself that she could leave the past behind. But standing in front of Alexander now, with the walls closing in, she realized that there was no running anymore.
"You're right," she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. "There's something more."
Alexander stepped closer, his eyes narrowing. "I knew it. You're not just some artist hiding in the shadows. There's something in your eyes, something you've been keeping from me. I can see it, Sophia. Whatever it is, it's the reason you disappeared that night."
She swallowed, her throat dry. Her mind raced, but all she could think about was the one thing she couldn't say. The thing she had kept hidden for so long.
He was waiting for her to speak, his gaze never leaving hers. For a moment, it felt like the world was spinning, and all she could do was stare at him. He had a right to know. She owed him that much, didn't she? But the words wouldn't come.
"I don't want to talk about the past," she said, her voice shaking. "It's... complicated."
"Complicated?" Alexander echoed, his brow furrowing. "Sophia, what happened between us wasn't just some mistake. It wasn't an accident. You're hiding something, and I won't let you get away with it."
Sophia's pulse quickened. His words hung in the air like a threat, but there was something else in his voice too. There was a softness there, a hint of vulnerability that she hadn't expected.
"I don't want to do this," she whispered, more to herself than to him.
But Alexander wasn't backing down. He leaned in slightly, his eyes intense. "You don't have a choice anymore."
Sophia felt her chest tighten as a realization hit her. He wasn't just looking for answers about that night. He was looking for something more—something that could shatter everything she had tried to protect.
The silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken truths. For a moment, neither of them moved. But then Alexander spoke again, his voice softer this time.
"You don't have to do this alone, Sophia," he said, his tone sincere. "Whatever it is, we can face it together."
Her breath caught in her throat. She wasn't sure if she could trust him—could she really? But the vulnerability in his eyes made it hard to deny that maybe, just maybe, he wanted to help.
"Can we?" she asked, her voice barely audible.
"Yes," he replied, his voice steady. "We can."