231“Is everything alright?” Clara asked, her pen hovering above the page, eyes still on Howard.Howard didn’t answer immediately. His gaze was still fixed on the door where Harold had just exited. His hands clenched at his sides, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. He exhaled slowly, trying to regain his composure. The sound of his breath echoed in his ears as he tried to make sense of the whirlwind that had just unfolded.“Yeah,” he muttered, swallowing hard. His voice was shaky, but he forced the words out. “Just some old... history. He’s not a problem.”Clara didn’t seem convinced. She leaned back in her chair, her eyes never leaving him as she studied his every movement. There was something about the way she looked at him, something unsettling, as though she could see right through his walls.“I’ve seen plenty of people like him before,” Clara said, her voice cool, almost dismissive. “All talk. But don’t let him distract you. You’ve got bigger things to worry about.

233Clara gave him a final look, her expression unreadable. “Good. I’ll be in touch.” She turned and walked toward the door. “And Howard? You’d better hope you can back up your claims. Because from where I’m standing, things aren’t looking good for you.”Howard didn’t respond, watching her as she walked away. His eyes narrowed, but no words came out. The pressure was too much, too suffocating. He wanted to shout after her, to tell her she was wrong, to demand she take back everything she’d just said. But the words stuck in his throat. He was too tired to fight anymore.Clara opened the door, and for a brief moment, the soft jingle of the bell above it was the only sound in the room. Then, she was gone.Howard stood there, frozen, for a long moment. The silence that followed felt like a weight, pressing down on him from every direction. He could feel the crushing sense of loss creeping in, gnawing at the edges of his mind. This was it. The end of everything.The shop, once full of life

235Allvar exhaled slowly, eyes hardening as if recalling his own past with people like that. “That’s how they get you. They make you feel seen. Make you feel like they understand you better than anyone else. And they’ll use that to manipulate you.”She nodded, her face crinkled in thought. "I didn’t realize it then. It was all so... fast, you know? One minute, I was feeling so good, like maybe someone actually cared. And then, before I knew it, he was asking for all this stuff—personal things, financial things. And I didn't know how to say no.""You should’ve said no," Allvar said firmly. "You never owe people like that your trust, not until they’ve earned it." He paused, giving her a sharp look. “And you certainly don’t owe them your help.”“I guess that’s true,” she said softly, her eyes darting to the ground. “I was so desperate for someone to believe in me. I think that’s what did it. I didn’t realize how easy it is to manipulate that."“Desperation makes you vulnerable,” Allvar

237“I… I’m not sure if that’s a good idea,” he replied slowly, his tone unsure. His instinct told him to refuse, to stay distant. He wasn’t the type to show up at people’s gatherings, especially not with someone he had just met.Lily’s eyes widened, and her lips parted in surprise. But then, a soft plea entered her voice. She clasped her hands together, her gaze earnest. “Please? It’s going to be a small gathering, just family and a few friends. It would mean a lot to me if you could come. You’ve helped me so much already.”Allvar looked at her, unsure. Her request was sincere, but he wasn’t someone who found comfort in social gatherings. But Lily’s earnestness tugged at something inside him. He found himself feeling... torn. She had offered him a piece of trust, something most people never did.“I don’t usually attend these things,” he replied, his resolve still holding, though his voice had softened. “I’m not sure I belong there.”Lily’s eyes became pleading again, and this time, t

239For a moment, the tension was thick enough to cut with a knife. Allvar looked at Lily, his respect for her growing. Tobias seemed taken aback by her defiance, his eyes narrowing with growing frustration.“Fine,” he said through gritted teeth. “But don’t say I didn’t warn you.” With one last venomous glance, he turned and walked away, his footsteps echoing in the silence.Lily let out a long breath, her shoulders slumping in relief. “I’m sorry you had to see that,” she said quietly, turning to Allvar. “I don’t know what’s gotten into him lately.”Allvar gave her a soft smile, his voice calm and reassuring. “It’s not your fault. People like him... they just think they have the right to push others around.”She nodded, still visibly shaken but more at ease now that Tobias was gone. “I don’t want to let him get to me, but it’s hard sometimes.”“I understand,” Allvar said, his voice low and reassuring. “But don’t let him change who you are. You’ve got a lot of strength.”Lily looked at