thea_keith_

Thea never thought she would return here. Not after everything that had happened. But life had a way of circling back, dragging her into familiar halls, familiar faces—and him.

Professor Adrian Carter.

The past was supposed to be buried beneath the diamond Andrew had slipped onto her finger, beneath whispered promises of a future that was stable, predictable. But now, standing in Adrian’s office once more, she knew some ghosts never truly left.

And neither did certain desires.

The Shadow of Past desires

Thea took a taxi straight to Silvia's café. As she stepped in, she immediately noticed the dejected look on Silvia's face. The usually vibrant and energetic woman looked exhausted, her fingers drumming nervously on the counter.

"What happened?" Thea asked, worry lacing her voice.

Silvia let out a deep sigh and gestured to a table where a laptop was open. "We had the phone unlocked. We were going through the data, and then—" she hesitated, her expression troubled. "Someone bumped into me, and the phone fell. It won't turn on."

Thea's heart sank. "Are you serious?"

Silvia nodded. "We were so close."

Frustration bubbled inside Thea, but she forced herself to stay calm. "Maybe we can still get the data recovered. But first, tell me what you found before the phone shut down."

Silvia exhaled and turned the laptop screen toward Thea. "We managed to extract some files before the phone died. You need to see this."

A single image appeared—a close-up of two pairs of shoes, one male, one female. The woman's shoes were unmistakably Ariana's. But the identity of the man remained unknown.

Thea stared at the image, her mind racing. "Who was with her?"

Silvia bit her lip. "Could it be Harrison?"

Thea frowned. "Maybe. But why take a picture of their feet? Was she trying to leave a clue?"

Silvia sighed. "That's all we got before the phone died. The other files are encrypted."

Thea rubbed her temples. "We need to get that phone fixed."

She leaned back, exhaustion washing over her. Silvia gave her a sympathetic look and stood up. "I'll make us some coffee. You need a break."

Thea nodded, watching as Silvia moved behind the counter. Her friend was always her anchor in the storm.

A few minutes later, Silvia set a plate of pasta and two steaming cups of coffee on the table. "Eat. You left dinner without eating much."

Thea smiled faintly. "You always know."

Silvia took a sip of her coffee, then smirked. "By the way, I saw Clara at Andrew's dinner. Looked pretty cozy next to him."

Silvia rolled her eyes. "Honestly, Thea, why do you even bother with him?"

Silvia shook her head and pulled out her phone. "You know what? Let's make this moment count." She snapped a picture of their coffee and pasta and tagged Thea in her post.

Thea shook her head. "You're impossible."

Silvia grinned. "And you love me for it."

As the rain started to fall outside, Thea sipped her coffee, her mind still tangled in the past and the secrets yet to be unraveled. But for now, just for a moment, she let herself breathe.

Fragments of the Past