Elegbede_Habeeb

The first time they met, it felt like fate. The second time, it felt like a warning.

She was running from a past that refused to die. He was chasing a future that seemed just out of reach. When their worlds collided, it was more than just love—it was an obsession, a wildfire that threatened to burn them both alive.

But love isn’t always salvation. Sometimes, it’s destruction in disguise.

Bound by Fire: Ashes of Desire

The air in Paris was thick with tension.

Luca sat in the dimly lit hotel room, replaying every second of his encounter with Mira. The way she had aimed the gun at his heart. The way she had let him live.

Sofia paced the room, arms crossed. "We need to leave, Luca."

Luca didn't respond. His fingers traced the edge of the small object Mira had slipped into his pocket before disappearing. A folded piece of paper, soft from wear.

With a deep breath, he unfolded it.

Luca found himself in the shadowed ruins of an abandoned cathedral, the stained glass cracked, moonlight bleeding through.

Mira stood at the altar, bathed in the dim glow.

She turned as he stepped closer, arms wrapped around herself like she was holding something fragile together.

Luca's voice was low. "You wanted me here."

Mira nodded. "I didn't come back to kill you, Luca."

A humorless smile. "Because you deserve to know the truth."

Mira took a slow breath. "That night in Rome, when we were ambushed… you thought I sold you out."

Luca stiffened. That night had haunted him for years. The night everything had gone wrong.

Mira continued, voice softer now. "But I didn't betray you, Luca. Someone else did."

Luca took a step back. "No. That's not possible."

Mira's gaze didn't waver. "You know it is."

Luca's mind reeled. Sofia had saved him. Had stayed by his side. Had risked her life for him.

The puzzle pieces shifted. The missing moments, the secrets, the well-timed rescues.

Had Sofia been playing him all along?

Mira took another step closer, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Luca, you have to decide. Who do you trust?"

Next Chapter: A Choice of the Heart – Truth and lies collide as Luca confronts Sofia. But will he be able to see through the deception… or will he fall for it once again?

The Truth in Her Eyes