Maria.

I had barely stepped out of Noah’s room when the door closed behind him, his presence lingering in the air like warmth that refused to fade. I could have waited, could have lingered a little longer in the quiet of his space, but restlessness crept into me, light and fluttery. I felt... full. Too full to stay still.

So I left.

The surprise he had given me sat heavily, and sweetly, in my thoughts, something precious that needed to be enjoyed in private, savored slowly like a secret meant only for me. Just the idea of it sent a small smile tugging at my lips, one I didn’t bother to suppress.

I walked down the hallway toward my room, my steps lighter than usual, almost buoyant. A soft, disbelieving laugh escaped me as I shook my head.

Someone cared for me. Genuinely.

The thought felt unreal, like a fragile dream I might wake up from if I acknowledged it too loudly. For so long, affection had come with conditions, expectations, or pain tucked neatly behind it. But this, this felt different. Clean. Warm. Honest.

I pressed my lips together, smiling sheepishly at myself as I walked. My heart felt light, my chest warm, and before I realized it, I was almost skipping.

I jumped once, then again, unable to contain the happiness bubbling inside me, when suddenly...I collided with someone.

"Oof!" I gasped, stumbling back slightly.

"See who looks so happy!"

I looked up, startled, only to meet Vincent’s amused gaze. He stood there with an easy grin, arms folded loosely, eyes bright with curiosity.

My surprise melted instantly, replaced by a smile just as wide as his.

I smiled back at him, genuine and unguarded. For a brief second, I felt the urge to tell him everything, to spill the joy, the surprise, the warmth Noah had wrapped me in moments earlier. But the thought stopped me just as quickly.

Noah.

Some things weren’t mine to share.

So I swallowed the words and tilted my head instead, playful.

"Doesn’t happiness look good on me?" I teased.

Vincent’s grin widened as he studied me openly, his gaze lingering longer than usual. "Of course it does," he said smoothly. "You’re radiating like the sun right now. Honestly, the sun should probably cover its eyes ..can’t compete with you."

I blinked.

"I guess stunning is the word for someone as pretty as you," he added, completely unbothered.

Heat rushed to my cheeks instantly.

"Oh...stop it," I said, embarrassed, laughing as I lifted my hand and lightly hit his chest. "You’re impossible."

He clutched his chest dramatically, staggering back half a step. "Ouch," he groaned. "That hurts."

I rolled my eyes, but before I could reply, he straightened and looked at me, really looked at me. His playful expression softened, his gaze intent, almost teasingly serious.

"Now you’ve got my heart beating so loudly for you," he said.

My breath caught.

My ears burned, my cheeks flushed hotter, and suddenly I was acutely aware of how close we were standing. My heart thudded, not in the way he described, but fast enough to make me uncomfortable.

Why was Vincent suddenly flirting with me?

I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could, he raised his brows, clearly enjoying my reaction.

"And what do you say to my beating heart, Maria?" he asked.

I scoffed, grateful for the humor that came naturally to me in moments like this. "Come on, Vincent," I said, shaking my head. "I didn’t hit you that hard. If I did, you’d be on the ground by now."

He laughed, the sound warm and infectious. "Ah, so you admit you could knock me down?"

"Easily," I replied, smirking. "You should be careful."

"Noted," he said, still smiling. "But I’ll gladly risk it if it means seeing you like this, happy."

The words softened something in me.

I looked away briefly, my smile fading into something quieter, more thoughtful. Happiness still felt new, delicate. Like glass that might crack if handled too roughly.

"Well," I said lightly, lifting my gaze back to him, my lips curving into a playful smile, "don’t get used to it."

Vincent let out a soft chuckle, low and warm, the kind that seemed to linger in the air even after it faded. "Too late," he replied easily. Then he turned his face upward, eyes drifting toward the open sky above us as if he were searching for something written there. "How about my heart," he added, his tone teasing but oddly gentle, "should it get used to you?"

The words settled between us, fragile and unexpected.

I didn’t answer.

For a moment, silence stretched, not awkward, not heavy, just... full. I stood there, unsure of what to say, unsure of what I was even supposed to feel. My fingers curled slightly at my sides, my heart fluttering in a way I didn’t quite understand.

Then Vincent laughed softly, shaking his head. "I was just kidding," he said quickly, turning back to me and flashing the brightest smile I had ever seen.

It was dazzling.

The kind of smile that could light up even the dullest room, the kind that made you forget, just for a second, that the world could ever be cruel. There was something effortlessly radiant about him, something that drew people in without him even trying.

I found myself staring.

If I were still at the academy, I thought distantly, I was a hundred percent sure Vincent would have ranked second, right behind the Quadruplets. Not Darren. Vincent. He had that presence, that quiet charm mixed with confidence and warmth.

I was still lost in that thought, still staring at his smile, when suddenly his hand reached for mine.

Before I could react, his fingers wrapped around my wrist, not roughly, not forcefully, just firm enough to guide me, and he began pulling me along the hallway.

"Vincent..." I started, startled.

But he was already moving, leading me forward with long, confident strides. I stumbled slightly before matching his pace, my heart thudding in confusion.

"Where are we going?" I asked, breathless, trying to keep up.

He didn’t answer right away, only glanced back at me with a grin that told me he enjoyed this far too much.

I had to take the medicine Noah had given me. The thought surfaced briefly, tugging at my conscience. But as Vincent continued pulling me along, laughter in his eyes, I pushed the thought aside.

It could wait. Just a bit.

He led me through a familiar passage and then out into the open air. The scent of flowers and fresh grass immediately filled my senses as we stepped into the garden.

Vincent finally stopped and turned to face me, spreading his arms slightly as if presenting the place. "Look," he said, his voice softer now, calmer. "Don’t you like the scenery?"

I looked around.

The garden was peaceful, bathed in soft light, the flowers swaying gently as the breeze passed through them. It was beautiful, serene in a way that made my chest loosen without me realizing it.

But if I were being honest, it wasn’t the garden holding my attention.

It was Vincent.

His smile was still there, bright and open, so alluring it was impossible not to respond to it. There was something contagious about it, something that made smiling feel natural instead of forced.

I nodded slowly.

His smile brightened even more, as if my small reaction alone had pleased him greatly.

"Maria," he said quietly, still holding my hands now, his fingers warm against my skin. He tilted his head back again, eyes fixed on the sky, his voice carrying a strange sincerity. "I want you to be happy at all times. Always happy."

The words struck me deeper than I expected.

I felt my lips curve into a smile, small, genuine, but it didn’t last.

Because suddenly, a sharp voice cut through the calm of the garden like a blade.

"Maria, what the hell do you think you’re doing?"

My heart lurched.

I turned just in time to see Aidan striding toward us, his movements fast and aggressive, his expression dark with fury. Before I could even react, he was already upon us.

In a split second, his hand shot out.

He yanked my hand free from Vincent’s grasp, pulling me back toward him with such force that I stumbled.

"Aidan!" I gasped.

But he wasn’t looking at me.

His gaze was locked onto Vincent, eyes blazing with a single, unmistakable message—back off.

The air between them turned sharp and tense, the peaceful garden suddenly feeling suffocating.

I stood frozen between them, my heart pounding violently in my chest, my fingers still tingling from where Vincent’s hand had been ripped away.

What just happened?