Chapter 32: The Offer

Andrew was seated opposite me in the tiny café, the distance between us seeming as vast as a chasm. His perfectly fitted suit and calm disposition contrasted sharply with the natural charm of the location, giving the impression that he had entered a different realm—and perhaps he had. I took a sip of my tea to occupy my hands, wishing the warmth building in my chest didn’t show on my face.

He hadn’t talked much since we took our seats, but the intensity in his eyes indicated he had plenty to express. Andrew was not the type of man to squander words. He deployed them as weapons, sharp and exact.

“Why do we exist here, Andrew?” I ultimately inquired, placing the mug down with greater force than I meant to. "You didn’t travel this far just to sample the herbal tea."

A trace of a smile flickered on his lips, yet it disappeared as fast as it had come. "We must discuss what comes after this, Amelia." "For you, for me, and the little one."