IRENE'S POV
I had just settled into my seat at a quaint little café when I saw Leon stroll in. His presence filled the room like a shadow that darkened my mood. He spotted me almost immediately, his eyes lighting up with that same charm I was used to seeing and something else—something that made my heart beat just a little faster, despite my best efforts to stay indifferent.
"Well, well, if it isn’t the elusive Irene," Leon said, sliding into the chair across from me without waiting for an invitation. "You really are good at resisting the urge to call me."
I forced a smile, trying to mask the discomfort gnawing at me. "I’ve been busy."
"Busy avoiding me?" he teased, though his eyes searched mine as if looking for a deeper answer.
Before I could respond, a sharp, icy sensation made me
