Shadows of desire : SVT✅

(1) Sold

At the crack of dawn, the girl quietly slipped out of bed, careful not to wake her adoptive parents. The house was still and silent as she began her morning chores, a routine that had become all too familiar. She swept the floors, scrubbed the kitchen, and prepared breakfast, her movements mechanical and efficient.

As she worked, her mind drifted back to the life she had barely known.She had been just two years old when her parents died, sent to an orphanage where she was adopted by a couple who initially seemed like saviors. But the illusion shattered quickly.

Her adoptive mother entered the kitchen, a frown already etched on her face. "You're running late," she snapped. "Hurry up and finish. You have work in an hour."

The girl nodded, biting back a retort. She knew better than to argue. She finished her chores, grabbed her bag, and slipped out of the house without a word. Her job at the local cafe was her only escape, a small respite from the harsh realities of home.

The cafe was just beginning to stir as she arrived. She tied on her apron and started her shift, the familiar routine providing a strange sense of comfort. As she brewed coffee and served customers, she found herself slipping into the role of the cheerful barista, her forced smiles and polite conversations masking the turmoil inside.

A few regulars greeted her warmly, their kind words a stark contrast to the coldness she faced at home. One older woman, Mrs. Anna, always made a point to chat with her. "You have such a bright future ahead, dear," she said one morning, her eyes full of genuine concern.

The girl was wiping down the counter at the cafe when a customer caught her eye. She recognized him; he always comes here in a while with an intense gaze that seemed to take in every detail. As she turned to hand him his coffee, her sleeve rode up slightly, revealing a long, jagged scar on her forearm.

"How did you get this?" the guy asked, his eyes narrowing as he pointed at the scar.

Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly pulled her sleeve down to cover it. "Oh, it's nothing," she said with a forced smile. "Just a silly accident from when I was younger."

The guy's expression didn't change. "Liar," he said flatly, his voice low and unwavering.

She froze, the word hanging in the air between them. For a moment, she felt exposed, as if he could see right through her carefully constructed facade. She opened her mouth to protest, but no words came out. Instead, she turned away, busying herself with the espresso machine to avoid his piercing gaze.

"I don't know what you're talking about," she finally managed, her voice trembling slightly.

He didn't push further, but she could feel his eyes on her, watching. The rest of the shift passed in a blur, his words echoing in her mind. She had spent so long hiding the truth, burying her traumas under layers of lies and forced smiles. But in that brief exchange, it felt like a part of her carefully guarded secret had been exposed.

The air in the cafe was thick with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee, a stark contrast to the tension coiled around him. Adjusting the earpiece discreetly, He leaned back at his seat as he kept a watchful eye on his target across the room Sipping his coffee.Their conversation was hushed but urgent, snippets of their exchange filtering through the static in his ear.