Chapter 147

That weekend finally arrived, and with it came our first official date.

Viktor and I left the apartment building together, our fingers intertwined as we walked toward the curb. The simple act of holding hands in public still felt new and a little daring. The security guard at the entrance noticed immediately. He raised an eyebrow, a small smile tugging at his lips.

“Holding hands now? You two together?” he asked, clearly surprised.

I felt my cheeks heat up and instinctively tried to pull my hand away, but Viktor held on tighter, his grip warm and reassuring.

“Yeah, she’s my girlfriend,” Viktor said calmly, his voice steady.

The guard’s smile faltered a little. “Isn’t she older?”

The words landed like a small punch to the stomach. I looked down at the ground, suddenly feeling every year of the age gap between us. Shame and self-doubt rushed in, making my chest tight. I hated how quickly one comment could make me feel small again.