Unable to sleep, Elena wandered into Damian's study. The room was filled with books and old photographs, and in the center of the desk was a single worn journal.
Curiosity got the better of her, and she opened it. The entries revealed a side of Damian she had never seen before—a young man who had grown up alone, hardened by betrayal and loss.
"You shouldn't be in here," Damian's voice said softly behind her.
Elena turned, startled. "I… I was just…"
"Reading my past," Damian finished, stepping closer. "I'm not proud of the man I used to be."
"You were hurt," Elena said gently. "You built walls to survive."
Damian's eyes softened. "And you're tearing them down," he whispered.
The air between them crackled with unspoken emotion. Damian lifted a hand to brush her cheek, and Elena didn't pull away. For the first time, she saw the man beneath the armor—the man who had lost everything and was terrified of losing her too.