Page 67 of A Prescription to My Heart

Silence again. Heavy, uncomfortable. His fingers brush against the duvet. A slow movement, like he wants to say something but can’t.

I speak first. “So… what happens now?”

“Now?”

“The act’s over. Your in-laws are gone. There’s no one left to convince.”

His jaw tightens. “Right.”

“So that’s it?”

He doesn’t answer.

“I can move back,” I say. “To my place. We can… figure how to quietly get things annulled.”

“Talia—”

“No, I mean it. I stayed for Marigold, but she’s safe now. And the Gala did its job. They believe us. And… I could come over if you need me to. Until maybe it’s safe to tell them we divorced.

He runs a hand through his hair. “That’s not what I want.”

My heart jumps. “Then whatdoyou want?”

He stands. Walks toward me. Stops just a breath away. “I don’t know.”

“Because this feels real?” I ask.

He nods. Just once. “It does.”

I blink fast. My throat burns. “We crossed a line, Soren.”

“I know.”

“And I don’t know how to uncross it.”

He exhales slowly. “Maybe we don’t.”

I stare at him. “That kiss…”

“I know.”

“You can’t keep sayingI know, Soren.”

“I don’t have the right words,” he says, voice raw. “I don’t even know what I’m allowed to feel anymore.”

“Then say that. Don’t pretend nothing’s changed.”

“Okay. Something changed. You changed things.”

I look down. “So did you.”

He reaches out but doesn’t touch me. Just lets his hand hover, fingers curling.

“Talia,” he says softly, “you didn’t have to defend me. But you did. And they saw it. They believedyou. Not me.”

“Because I meant it,” I whisper.

He looks at me for a beat too long. Then steps back.

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