Damien's POV

The line rang once, twice, then her calm voice slipped into my ear like a melody I had been craving.

“Hello, Damien.”

Her tone was gentle, yet I could hear something beneath it: hesitation, maybe guilt. It made my chest tighten.

“Clara,” I breathed her name as though it could steady me. “Why did you cancel on me? I’ve been thinking about this dinner all day.”

There was a pause. I could imagine her biting her lip the way she always did when she struggled for words. My ...