The olive grove was a sanctuary, its ancient trees standing like silent guardians. Clara met Luca at noon, the sun high overhead. He looked weary, as if he hadn’t slept, but his eyes softened when he saw her. They sat beneath their tree, the one with their initials carved into the bark.

Luca began to speak, his voice low. He told her of the camp, of starvation and despair. He told her how he’d escaped, only to be forced into hiding. “I made a deal,” he said, his hands clenched. “To survive, I gave information to the wrong people. I betrayed someone… someone who didn’t deserve it.”

Clara’s breath caught. “Who?”

He shook his head. “I can’t tell you. Not yet. But I swear, Clara, I’m trying to make it right.”

Her mind spun. Luca, a traitor? It didn’t fit the man she’d loved. But the pain in his eyes was real, and she couldn’t turn away. “What do you need from me?” she asked.

“Your trust,” he said. “And time. There’s someone I need to find, someone who can help me clear my name. But I can’t do it without you.”

Before she could respond, a rustling in the trees made them both turn. A young woman emerged, her dark hair braided, her eyes sharp. “Luca,” she said, her voice urgent. “They’re looking for you.”

Clara’s heart sank. Who was this woman? And who was looking for Luca?

“This is Sofia,” Luca said quickly. “She helped me escape. She’s a friend.”

Sofia’s gaze flickered to Clara, assessing. “We need to move,” she said. “Now.”

Clara stood, her mind racing. Luca was in danger, and she was caught in the middle. “I’m coming with you,” she said, her voice firm.

Luca’s eyes widened. “Clara, it’s not safe.”

“I don’t care,” she said. “I’ve waited three years. I’m not losing you again.”

They fled through the countryside, the hills blurring past as Sofia led them to a crumbling farmhouse hidden in a valley. The air inside was musty, the walls lined with maps and papers. Clara’s pulse raced as she realized this was no ordinary hideout—it was a resistance safehouse.

Sofia explained that Luca was being hunted by men tied to his betrayal, men who wanted to silence him before he could expose them. “We’re close to finding the truth,” Sofia said. “But we need proof.”

Clara watched Luca as he pored over the maps, his brow furrowed. She wanted to believe in him, but doubts gnawed at her. Who had he betrayed? And why was Sofia so protective of him?

That night, as Sofia slept, Clara and Luca sat by a small fire. “Do you trust her?” Clara asked.

Luca nodded. “She saved my life. But I know this is hard for you. I never wanted to drag you into this.”

Clara touched his hand, her fingers tracing the scars on his knuckles. “I’m here because I choose to be,” she said. “But you need to be honest with me.”

He leaned closer, his breath warm against her cheek. “I will,” he promised. “When this is over, I’ll tell you everything. And then, if you’ll have me, I’ll spend my life making it up to you.”

Her heart fluttered, but before she could respond, a noise outside made them freeze. Footsteps. Voices. Someone had found them.

Chapter 3: Secrets in the Grove

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