The Mathias who had walked away so easily last night blurred into the man standing before me now, one who gazed at me as if I were his entire world.
And yet, they felt like two completely different people.
I couldn't tell, nor did I have the strength to.
Seeing my silence, Mathias pulled me into his arms, his fingers threading gently through my hair.
"Irene, I'm sorry. I was wrong last night. I'll make it up to you."
A fever had drained every ounce of my strength. My head rested weakly against his shoulder until my gaze landed on the collar of his shirt.
A bright red lipstick stain. My breath hitched. That shade, I recognized it instantly. The same bold crimson Nathalia had been wearing last night.
A violent shiver ran through me. Every breath felt like a dagger, piercing deep into my chest, twisting mercilessly.
Yet Mathias, still holding me close, remained oblivious. His gaze was locked on some distant point, shadows swirling in his eyes, a madness barely restrained.
He took a slow breath, exhaled, and said, "So, Irene… let's get engaged."
That very day, the news of our engagement dominated the headlines.