chapter Ninety-five

The weight of unspoken words hung heavy in the air as Killian and I sat at the dinner table. The flickering candlelight did little to ease the tension that had settled between us. I couldn't shake the feeling that he was keeping something from me, and it gnawed at the edges of my patience. "Why didn't you tell me, Killian?" I finally broke the silence, my voice hurt. His eyes, usually warm and reassuring, flickered with guilt. It was a dance of emotions he couldn't conceal. "It's complicated, Catalina," he began, a sigh escaping his lips. I nodded, urging him to continue. The truth, no matter how painful, was better than this lingering uncertainty. He hesitated, then spoke with a vulnerability that caught me off guard. "I didn't want to burden you with my problems. You have enough on your plate." His words, though well-intentioned, only fueled my frustration. "You can't decide what burdens I'm willing to bear, Killian. We're supposed to face things together." I understood why he wasn