The garden was bathed in the soft glow of late afternoon sunlight, the roses swaying gently in the breeze. Yet the calm beauty of the estate masked the storm that was about to break. Liana moved carefully along the cobblestone paths, her heart pounding in her chest. Every sense was alert, every shadow a possible threat.
She had hoped to steal a few quiet moments with Eren before her parents' relentless watch resumed. But something in the air told her danger was near—an almost imperceptible tension vibrating in the silence of the garden.
Eren emerged from behind a tall hedge, dark eyes scanning their surroundings, his movements measured and alert. "You shouldn't be here," he murmured, though his lips curved with faint relief at seeing her. "But… I cannot stop you from coming."
"I couldn't stay away," Liana whispered, her voice trembling with a mixture of fear and longing. "Even for a moment. Every heartbeat away from you feels unbearable."
Eren stepped closer, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Then we endure," he said quietly. "Careful, hidden, steadfast. No matter what happens, we endure… together."
---
Before Liana could respond, the faint crunch of footsteps on gravel made her heart leap. From the corner of her eye, she saw Darius emerge, moving with deliberate elegance, eyes sharp, calculating, and predatory.
"Miss Liana," he said smoothly, his voice dripping with charm that barely masked the threat beneath. "I wondered if I might find you here… enjoying the roses. Or perhaps… enjoying someone else's company?"
Liana's chest tightened. She pressed closer to Eren, hands trembling slightly. "I… I was just… walking," she said carefully, trying to sound calm.
Darius' gaze swept over them like a hawk. "And you, sir?" he asked, turning to Eren with a faint, dangerous smile. "Tending flowers… or tending… Miss Liana?"
Eren's jaw tightened, his stance protective, though he kept his tone measured. "I am performing my duties," he said evenly, careful not to betray the closeness between them.
Darius stepped closer, slow and deliberate, the sunlight glinting off his polished boots. "You are clever," he murmured, almost to himself. "But cleverness only delays the inevitable. Attachments like yours… they are fragile things. And yet… fascinating."
---
Liana felt her pulse hammering against her ribs. She could feel the danger, taste it in the air, but at the same time, the proximity to Eren, the brush of his hand against hers, sent an electric thrill through her.
"You remain calm," Eren whispered, his hand subtly covering hers, grounding her. "Breathe. Trust me. Nothing will happen if we stay steady."
Darius' eyes narrowed. He circled them slowly, watching their every movement, testing them, savoring the tension like a predator savoring the chase. "I see it now," he said softly, his gaze cutting into Liana like a blade. "The attachment, the longing… it cannot be hidden. And yet… you dare defy me."
Liana's heart leapt. Fear, excitement, and longing collided inside her. She leaned subtly into Eren, seeking comfort and protection, feeling the warmth of his presence.
---
Suddenly, a servant stepped too close, one of Darius' pawns, clearly reporting their every movement. Liana's breath caught in her throat.
"They see us," she whispered, panic threading her voice.
Eren's dark eyes softened, his grip on her hand firm and grounding. "Then we act," he murmured. "Follow my lead."
He guided her through the hidden paths of the garden, winding through roses and tall hedges until they reached the secluded fountain. Their hands brushed, fleeting contact that sent warmth and electricity racing through them, a private rebellion against the world that refused to bless their love.
"You must stay hidden," Eren whispered. "Every heartbeat counts now."
---
The silence stretched unbearably. Darius lingered near the fountain, moving with calculated patience, his eyes scanning the hedges, his lips curved in a dangerous smile. "I know you're here," he murmured. "You cannot hide forever. Secrets… they are fragile things."
Liana pressed against Eren, trembling, but the closeness, the shared heartbeat, made the fear almost intoxicating. She could feel his chest against hers, steady and strong, and it gave her courage.
"You are safe," he whispered, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "For now."
Liana exhaled shakily, leaning against him. "I… I don't know how much longer I can endure this," she admitted.
Eren's arms tightened around her. "As long as we are together, we endure. Fear walks with love, but love… our love… is stronger than fear."
The sun dipped lower, casting long shadows over the estate. The roses glowed faintly in the fading light, and for a moment, Liana allowed herself to believe that the world's threats could not touch them.
Yet she knew, deep down, that the storm was only beginning. Darius' schemes were far from over, and her parents' insistence on a match with him would only grow stronger.
But for now… for this stolen moment, their forbidden love was alive, defiant, and unbreakable.
A love the world would never bless… yet unstoppable.