The first light of morning spilled over the Paris skyline, painting rooftops and cobblestone streets with soft gold. Lila leaned against the balcony of her hotel room, the cool breeze carrying the scent of freshly baked bread from nearby cafés. The city was just waking, quiet but alive, and for the first time in weeks, her heart felt a strange sense of peace.
The trip had already begun to change her. The streets, lined with flowers and wrought-iron balconies, seemed like something out of a dream. The Seine shimmered in the early sun, reflecting the sky like liquid glass. She took a deep breath, letting the moment settle inside her, and felt… free.
Her thoughts immediately flickered to him. Ethan Cole. The possessive shadow that had been with her since their first stolen kiss. She closed her eyes, remembering the firelight on his face during the campfire. His words, his stare, his thumb brushing her lips—the memory made her pulse quicken.
But then a voice interrupted her reverie.
"Hey, are you alone?"
She turned and found a boy, maybe a year older than her, smiling politely. His brown hair was slightly tousled, and his eyes held a warmth that put her at ease. He carried a small notebook in his hand.
"Yes… I guess," she said cautiously.
"I'm Lucas," he said, extending his hand. "I go to Saint Martin's. I noticed you with your group yesterday. You're… easy to spot, actually. The new student everyone's talking about."
Lila laughed lightly, shaking his hand. "Lila. Hart. I'm here with school. Uh… thanks, I guess?"
Lucas's smile widened. "Well, I wanted to say hi. Maybe show you some spots around the city today. You're missing the little hidden corners if you stay just with your group."
Her heart fluttered with a mix of excitement and apprehension. She didn't know him, but something in his openness felt safe. "I… okay. That sounds nice."
Meanwhile, across the balcony, Ethan's presence made itself known before he even entered.
"Talking to someone?" His tone was calm but sharp, possessive under the surface.
She stiffened, turning to see him leaning in the doorway. "Ethan, it's nothing. Just… some local kid."
He walked closer, shadows of jealousy flickering in his dark eyes. "I know. I just… prefer it when you're with me."
She wanted to roll her eyes, to tell him he wasn't her cage. Instead, she shook her head with a small smile. "Not everything is about you, you know?"
His jaw flexed, but he didn't push further. Not yet. He simply settled beside her, arm brushing hers lightly, a subtle reminder that she belonged to him—even here, even with Lucas.
The day unfolded in bursts of beauty.
They strolled along the Seine, the bridges arched elegantly over the water, the morning light painting ripples in gold and silver. Street artists sketched portraits of tourists, and cafés spilled their tables onto the sidewalks, coffee scents mingling with fresh croissants.
Lucas pointed out hidden statues tucked into small parks, winding alleys where sunlight scattered over ivy-covered walls, and a quiet bookstore whose sign read Rêves et Pages. He laughed when Lila gasped at a particularly ornate fountain, saying she looked like she'd stepped into a storybook.
Ethan followed silently at her side, protective, possessive—but restrained. He watched the way Lucas made her laugh, and though his jaw tightened, he didn't make a scene. Not yet.
By noon, they arrived at a vast garden. Rows of tulips and roses created a riot of color, and a small pond mirrored the sky. Swans glided gracefully, and birds sang from the branches. Lila breathed in the scent of flowers and sunlight, feeling a lightness in her chest she hadn't known she could feel.
Lucas paused beside her, gesturing to a weeping willow at the edge of the pond. "This is my favorite spot. Nobody comes here, but the light hits the water just right at sunrise. It's… peaceful."
She smiled, enchanted. "It is beautiful. I never would've known about it if I hadn't come with you."
"You're welcome," he said softly, a gentle warmth in his eyes that made her pulse flutter.
Ethan stood slightly behind her, arms crossed, but his dark eyes didn't leave her. He noticed the way she smiled at Lucas, the way her gaze lingered. A quiet possessiveness settled over him, deep and unyielding.
When Lucas finally left her hand to check something across the garden, Lila felt a sudden pull in her chest. She turned toward Ethan, finding him already watching.
"You don't like him, do you?" she asked softly.
"I don't like anyone getting close to what's mine," he admitted, voice low. Then, almost softer, almost tender: "But I trust you. For now."
She swallowed, heart hammering. "Ethan…"
He leaned closer, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Shh. Just enjoy the day. Look around. Let yourself breathe. But remember… I'm always here."
The rest of the day passed in a blur of light and color. Lila, Lucas, and her friends explored art galleries, cobblestone streets, and quaint cafés. She laughed freely, unaware of how she was beginning to open her heart to the joys of the world—and the subtle thrill of attention from someone besides Ethan.
And all the while, Ethan's gaze was a constant shadow at her side, dark and possessive, quietly reminding her that while she explored new friendships, some ties were impossible to break.