Chapter 180

Ari nodded, a shadow passing over his features. ‘Exactly. I’ve tried to leave that life behind me.’ But even as he spoke, Elodie’s gaze flickered to his phone, her eyes widening as she noticed the familiar name that flashed across the screen. A surge of doubt flooded her, twisting in her gut like a knot of snakes. She looked away, forcing herself to push aside her suspicions, to trust in the man she’d come to develop some rather strong feelings for. But as Ari’s phone continued to buzz with messages from his father, she couldn’t shake the feeling that there were still secrets he was keeping from her. And deep down, she feared that those secrets would tear them apart. The clinking of cutlery subsided, replaced by an awkward silence that stretched over the crème brûlée. Elodie swirled the remaining caramel sauce with her spoon, eyes downcast. She wouldn’t pry further about Ari’s guarded past. It felt intrusive, especially considering their whirlwind romance. Besides, she had some secrets