Shattered Innocence: Transmigrated Into a Novel as an Extra

Chapter 406 Scars of the past (2)

"Why should I be the same as other people? I'm a pretty unique guy, you know?"Her eyes widened slightly, the sheer audacity of his tone catching her off guard. But the moment passed as quickly as it came, and she gritted her teeth, realizing that he wasn't going to stop.

'He's going to keep coming forward,' she thought, her pulse quickening.

She hated what she was about to do. She hated the vulnerability it demanded, the raw exposure. But if it was the only way to stop him, to prove her point, then so be it.

Her trembling hands moved to the edge of her veil, her breath hitching as she hesitated. She could feel the marks beneath her fingertips, the cracks and discolored patches that marred her skin.

'If this doesn't drive him away,' she thought bitterly, her chest tightening, 'nothing will.'

With a sharp tug, she pulled the veil away, revealing her face fully.

The flickering firelight illuminated the marks that ran along her cheeks and jaw—blackened lines that spidered across her pale skin, interwoven with patches of cracked, rough texture. Her once smooth complexion was marred by the unmistakable evidence of her illness, a sight that had driven away so many before him.

"Prove it now!" she shouted, her voice raw and trembling. Her amber eyes burned with anger, fear, and a desperate challenge as she looked directly into Luca's.

She

Luca's smirk deepened slightly, a glint of amusement flickering in his dark eyes as he looked directly into Aeliana's. The intensity of his gaze softened, replaced by a warmth that felt disarming and inexplicably steady.

"That," he said, his tone light and teasing, "is a secret."

Before Aeliana could respond, he turned on his heel, his coat swaying lightly with the movement, and strolled back toward the fire. His steps were unhurried, as though the weight of their conversation hadn't lingered on him in the slightest.

He sat down beside the flickering flames, leaning back casually against a rock. Reaching out, he stoked the embers with a small stick, his movements calm and deliberate.

"Come," he said after a moment, his voice laced with the faintest hint of teasing. "You'll get cold sitting over there."

The gentleness in his tone caught her off guard. It wasn't condescending or pitying—it was simply an invitation, simple and unassuming.

Aeliana blinked, her mind still reeling from everything he had said. Her fingers hovered near her veil, trembling slightly, but she didn't lift it again. Her thoughts raced, tangled between disbelief, confusion, and a small, fragile warmth she couldn't quite place.

She hesitated, her body still tense as she glanced toward the fire. The warmth it radiated seemed so inviting compared to the cold wall she had pressed herself against. But the idea of moving, of closing the space between them, felt monumental.

Luca didn't look at her directly, but his smirk lingered as he tossed the stick into the fire and stretched his arms. "Or you can stay there, I suppose," he said, his voice taking on a mockingly thoughtful tone. "But don't blame me if you freeze to death before morning. I've been told I'm not much of a rescuer twice in one night."

Aeliana's lips twitched, an almost-smile threatening to surface despite herself.

'What is with this man?' she thought, exhaling shakily.

Finally, with a deep breath, she pushed herself to her feet, her legs still trembling slightly. She took a tentative step forward, her gaze flicking between the fire and Luca, who hadn't moved from his spot.

As she drew closer, his smirk widened ever so slightly, though he didn't say a word.

Aeliana lowered herself cautiously onto the ground, settling near the edge of the fire's warmth but still keeping a careful distance from him. She folded her legs beneath her, her fingers clutching the fabric of her skirt as she stared into the flames.

For a moment, the only sound was the crackling of the fire.

"See?" Luca said finally, his tone still carrying that infuriating mix of teasing and gentleness. "Much better, isn't it?"

Aeliana shot him a sidelong glance, her amber eyes narrowing slightly, though the tension in her shoulders had eased. "You're insufferable," she muttered, her voice quieter than she intended.

Luca chuckled, leaning back with a satisfied grin. "Maybe," he said easily. "But at least you're not freezing anymore."

Aeliana looked away, focusing on the dancing flames as her lips pressed into a thin line. Despite her lingering frustration, she couldn't deny that the warmth of the fire—and the strange, unyielding presence of the man beside it—was a small comfort she hadn't realized she needed.