Chapter 486

As Jude wrestled with his inner conflict, trying to convince himself that Elysia was a witch, a potential threat to the island, his heart stubbornly refused to comply. Despite his rationalizations and warnings to himself, he found himself irresistibly drawn to her.

Elysia, too, grappled with her own doubts and suspicions about Jude. She reminded herself that he could be an enemy, that he might have ulterior motives. Yet, her heart betrayed her with every glance exchanged between them, every smile shared in mutual embarrassment.

Their interactions became infused with a delicate dance of attraction and hesitation. Whenever their eyes met, a silent understanding passed between them, a shared acknowledgment of the unspoken desires that simmered beneath the surface.