Victoria_Xoxo

He chuckled. “What’s with the face?”

I blinked. “What?”

“You’re blushing.” His voice held a teasing lit, and I could practically hear the smirk behind it.

“Oh.” I raised a hand to my cheek, rubbing absently, only to feel the warmth spreading across my skin. My lips twisted into a small, guilty smile.

Leo’s eyes gleamed with amusement. There was something about the way he looked at me—steady, knowing—that made me uneasy. Not because I felt uncomfortable, but because I had spent so long misunderstanding him.

Why hadn’t I seen his loyalty from the start? Why had I assumed he wanted me for business, for something transactional? A pang of guilt settled in my chest.

“This place is…” I started, glancing around, searching for words.

He leaned back slightly, one arm draped over the chair. “Deserving of a heiress,” he finished smoothly. “I had a work break.”

A warm rush of gratitude filled me, but it was quickly dampened by a lingering thought. Cassie had mentioned something earlier—something about Ophelia storming into Leo’s office. My fingers curled slightly against the tablecloth.

Kill Lila!

Just like sixteen years ago, I heard the muffled voice whisper: Kill them.

A shiver tore through me, but my mind barely had time to process it. My wrists ached as I fought against the rough rope biting into my skin. Across from me, Lila had woken up. Her wide, tear-streaked eyes darted around the dimly lit room, fear pooling in them as she struggled against her own restraints. The air was thick with tension—so heavy it felt like it could crush me.

Déjà vu washed over me as one of the masked men raised a bat above Lila. The moment stretched unbearably, each second drawn out like the final note of a requiem. Our eyes met—hers filled with something deeper than just fear. Regret. Apology. Maybe even love. It was as if she wanted to say something, something important, something that would die with her.

Deja Vu. Leo pov