Chapter 0038

SIN

The moment hangs between us, charged with an intensity that makes the air feel thicker. Her eyes, usually so full of defiance, now search mine for something I'm not quite sure I've ever allowed anyone to see before —vulnerability.

It's a look that unnerves me, not because I'm afraid of being seen, but because of what it demands of me in return — Trust.

Trust is something I've rarely dealt with, yet here I am, asking for it as if I've earned it.

"Why should I trust you? Why should I believe you right now?"

"I don't expect you to just believe me," I say, shifting slightly to face her more directly. "But my actions so far have proven that all I want to do is protect you."

Her gaze drifts away from mine, out the window, as the cars drive by. For the first time, I wonder what she's thinking, what she's feeling. The urge to reach out to her and hold her is overwhelming but I resist. This moment requires more than physical reassurance.

"Why now?" She asks, her voice is soft. "Why are