Chapter 11
After this incident, Thalia’s father became more serious about selecting a new fiancé for her.[]
When Thalia learned of this, she disappeared from the headlines.]]
No press releases.
No goodbyes.
She packed one suitcase, deleted all calendar events.[]
Only her passport, a sketchbook, and freedom she’d never had before.
Italy, Croatia, Morocco, Greece.]
Thalia let the rhythm of strange cities replace the chaos in her heart.[]
Until Thalia found herself on a sun–drenched island near the Croatian coast, where the sea sparkled like melted sapphires.[]
This is where she saw him.[]
Thalia was sketching the horizon, legs dangling over the dock’s edge, when a shadow fell across her pages.
“I don’t mean to interrupt,” came a low voice, “but I think your clouds are upside down.“[]
Thalia looked up, startled.[]
The man standing before her had sun–bleached brown hair, rolled–up sleeves, and held a half–empty beer bottle.
“Do you know how to draw clouds?” Thalia asked skeptically.[]
He laughed. “Unfortunately, no. Hi, I’m Drake Ashcroft. I’m terrible at drawing. But hey, God’s fair, I’m good at fixing engines.“[]
Thalia raised an eyebrow. “Thalia. But I don’t usually talk to men holding beer bottles.“[]
“Lucky me,” Drake replied, sitting beside her anyway.[]
That afternoon, they traded names.[]
Drake didn’t ask what she did for work.
When the sun sank below the cliffs, Drake walked barefoot in the waves, holding sandals in one hand and Thalia’s hand in the other.[]
He made her laugh.
The 10
More importantly, he made Thalia feel noticed, judged, or evaluated not because of her surname.[]
This time, she was just a girl who loved the ocean and bad espresso.[]
What was meant to be a three–day island stay became three weeks.[]
They shared midnight swims, roadside ice cream, spontaneous dancing on cobblestone streets.[]
Chapter 11
He taught her to drive a manual scooter. She taught him to make decent pasta.[]
She woke to coffee brewed exactly how she liked it. He would kiss the top of her head.[]
Every time Thalia looked at him, something inside her softened.[]
One evening, on a rooftop overlooking the bay, Thalia finally asked:[]
“Why don’t you ask what I do? Or who I really am?“]]
Drake shrugged, arms around her.]
“Because I care more about whether you’re happy with me.“[]
Thalia didn’t answer immediately.[]
Instead, she leaned down and kissed him–her first real kiss.[]
When summer ended, Thalia didn’t want it to end.[]
For the first time, she wondered if she could build her own life–not for family, not for duty, but for love.[]
She came back with Drake.[]
Drake introduced Thalia to friends.[]
She smiled, listened, played the understanding girlfriend.]
He never asked about Thalia’s past.
Similarly, she never asked about Drake’s past.[]
During their three years together, Thalia felt exceptionally happy.[]
Until past stories surfaced, and her love changed.]
