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She walked out of the research building in her white coat, and her eyes found him immediately by the gate.

For a beat, he looked like he might cry.

Then he was across the path, gripping her wrist.

"Why did you leave? Why didn't you say one word? Do you have any idea I've been losing my mind looking for you?"

Her eyes were empty. She pulled her wrist out of his hand.

"What are you doing here?"

"I came to apologize, Nina, I—"

"I don't want to hear it."

Her tone was quiet, but there was a wall behind it.

"I just want to focus on my research. Don't come here again. Isobel's still waiting for you, isn't she?"

His voice shook. "There's nothing between me and Isobel. The person I actually love is you—"

"You know how ridiculous that sounds coming out of your mouth?"

She walked past him into the building without a backward glance.

He didn't leave. He checked into a hotel across from the lab and came back every day, watching the entrance.

Three days passed. A week.

She never came back out.

Finally, he stopped a guard at the door. "Where is she? Is she still in there?"

The guard answered easily. "The research is closed-campus now. Expected duration—one and a half years."

Dante stood there as the Milan wind cut through him. He felt the cold climb straight into his bones.