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🌙 Chapter 10 – Broken Trust
Broken trust didn't shatter loudly.
It cracked quietly—
in small moments,
in avoided glances,
in words that stopped forming.
Noah Watson stopped waiting for Luca Fernandes.
She stopped looking for him in rooms.
Stopped noticing when he entered.
Stopped caring—at least, that's what she told herself.
At breakfast, she sat beside Eva instead of across from Luca.
During conversations, she answered Adrien more than him.
And when Luca spoke to her, she replied politely—like he was someone she used to know.
That hurt more than anger ever could.
"You're pushing her away," Adrien said quietly to Luca that afternoon.
Luca didn't deny it. "I already did."
Adrien looked at him sharply. "Then fix it."
"I don't know how," Luca admitted. "Not without reopening things that could hurt her more."
Adrien's voice softened. "She's already hurting."
---
Meanwhile, Alina watched everything unfold with quiet satisfaction.
She sat beside Noah in the living room, pretending concern.
"You seem tired," Alina said gently. "Stress does that."
Noah nodded. "Maybe."
Alina sighed. "I know Luca. He disappears when things get serious. I just don't want you blaming yourself."
Noah's fingers curled slightly.
"I don't."
But the doubt stayed.
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That night, Noah found Adrien on the terrace, staring at the city lights.
"You okay?" she asked.
Adrien smiled faintly. "Depends who's asking."
She sat beside him. "I don't understand why silence hurts more than truth."
Adrien looked at her then—really looked.
"Because silence lets your mind imagine the worst," he said. "And you don't deserve that."
Her eyes stung. "Neither does anyone."
Adrien almost told her then.
Almost.
But timing had always been cruel.
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From her room, Sofia watched Noah walk past Luca without acknowledging him.
She crossed her arms. "You lost her trust."
Luca closed his eyes. "I know."
"And trust doesn't come back just because you regret it."
He nodded. "I know."
In the hallway, Alina typed another message.
Phase two complete.
Because once trust breaks,
love doesn't scream.
It bleeds quietly.
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