Page 34 of Johan.

I hesitate, letting the silence stretch for a moment as I gather my thoughts. The room suddenly feels smaller, the air thicker. I take another sip of my drink, hoping it will calm the nervous flutter in my chest. The cool liquid slides down my throat, and I feel a little steadier, but the anxiety still gnaws at me.

“I agreed to join this expedition because I'm passionate about ancient civilizations,” I say slowly, carefully choosing my words. “But… there’s also another reason.”

I pause, and for a moment, I consider not saying it—letting the silence cover it up, pretending everything’s fine. But I can't. I owe it to myself, to be honest.

“Astrid… she's always on my back, questioning my every move,” I admit, my voice quieter now, more uncertain. I can’t help but glance away, ashamed of how small I feel confessing this. “If I'm going to dedicate myself to this research, I need some space. I need room to breathe.”

I let the words hang in the air for a moment before daring to look back at him. Ludovic's expression hasn't changed much—still calm, still unreadable—but there's a flicker of something in his eyes. Understanding, maybe. Or calculation. I can never be sure with him.

“I need your help to make sure she understands that,” I add, feeling the vulnerability of the request. Asking for help never comes easily to me, but this—this feels necessary.

Ludovic leans back slightly, considering my words. His eyes flicker with something, but he doesn’t speak right away. Instead,he takes a sip of his drink, his gaze never leaving mine. “I understand, Johan. Astrid can be... persistent. You'll have the space you need both before and during the expedition. Don’t worry, I'll speak to her.”

I exhale, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders. “Thanks. That means a lot.”

He raises his glass, and we toast to the success of our endeavor. As the evening winds down, I feel a renewed sense of purpose and a growing anticipation for the journey ahead. The lingering taste of wine on my lips and the promise of new discoveries fill me with a quiet excitement. Tonight, we've taken a significant step forward, and I can't wait to see where this path will lead us.

15

Hannah

I sit in class,staring at the board, but the words blur together, my mind wandering miles away. The air feels heavy, and the faint scent of chalk dust mixes with the winter chill seeping in through the old windows. The last few days of the semester are always a blur, but this time it's worse. Johan is officially engaged to Astrid, and the thought gnaws at me like a relentless ache. I try to shake it off, focusing on the lecturer's droning voice, but it’s no use. I can’t stop thinking about the mess we’re all in.

My fingers drum on the edge of my computer as I consider my options. Should I talk to the dean? Confess everything about my kleptomania? If I expose myself, Astrid will have less power over Johan, at least when it comes to my secret. It's risky, but it might be worth it. The thought stays with me, heavy and insistent, as the class drags on. The bell finally rings, jolting me from my reverie. I gather my things, the rough fabric of my bag brushing against my fingers, and, with a sense of resolve, head toward the administration office, ready to give it a shot.

The corridors are bustling with students eager to leave, their excited chatter bouncing off the walls. I take a deep breath, the familiar scent of old wood and floor polish filling my lungs as I approach the administration office. Pushing open the door, I step inside. The secretary looks up from her desk, her curious eyes peering over the rim of her glasses, studying me as I enter.

“Can I help you?” she asks, her voice polite but distant.

“Yes, I need to speak to Dean Pembroke.” My voice wavers slightly despite my effort to keep it steady. I can feel the nerves in my stomach fluttering as I shift my bag on my shoulder. “It’s an important matter.”

She raises an eyebrow, her attention drifting briefly back to the glowing screen in front of her. “Do you have an appointment?”

“Not really,” I admit, forcing myself to stand tall, even as anxiety creeps in. “But it’s urgent.”

As she reaches for the phone, my gaze drifts to the corner of the room—and to my biggest surprise, there he is. Ludovic Goschen himself, shaking hands with the dean. The shock hits me like a wave, freezing me in place, and my heart sinks, a cold, heavy weight settling in my chest. It’s clear now. Johan was right to warn me. Dean Pembroke would never side with me against someone as powerful as Astrid’s dad. My throat tightens as I turn away, my footsteps silent against the thick carpet, slipping out of the office before they can notice me.

The winter air bites at my cheeks as I step outside, pulling my coat tighter around me. I make my way to the café where I’m meeting Conrad for lunch. The warmth inside is a welcome relief, and the rich aroma of coffee and baked goods fills the air, comforting and familiar. I spot Conrad at a corner table, his expression serious but softening into a smile as he sees me.

“Hey, Hannah,” he says, standing up to give me a quick hug. “How’s it going?”

I shrug, forcing a smile. “You know, the usual end-of-semester chaos. How about you?”

He chuckles, shaking his head. “Surviving. Barely. I’ve been buried in research papers.”

We sit down, and a waitress comes over to take our orders. I order a cappuccino and a sandwich, while Conrad opts for a black coffee and a croissant. As we wait, we talk about trivial things—the weather, upcoming holiday plans, mutual friends.

“Excited to go back home for Christmas?” Conrad asks, taking a sip of his coffee.

“I guess,” I reply, staring at the frothy swirl in my cup. “It’ll be good to see family. What about you?”

“Yeah, looking forward to it. Always nice to have a break,” he says, his gaze fixed on me. “But hey, there’s something I wanted to talk to you about.”

I tense up slightly, setting my cup down. “What is it?”

He hesitates, glancing around the busy café before leaning in a bit closer. “I spoke to Johan. He told me about everything that's been going on.”

My heart skips a beat, and I feel a flush of heat rising in my cheeks. “Everything?”

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