As the night wore on, the tension between Sofia and Christ only deepened, a silent battle that neither of them acknowledged but both felt acutely. Julie and Feng Hue chatted happily, oblivious to the storm brewing between their companions. Every glance, every moment of eye contact, carried the weight of all that was left unsaid. It was as if time had folded, bringing the raw intensity of Death Valley back into the present, refusing to let either of them forget.

Christ tried to focus on Feng Hue's words, something about a business deal that had brought him here in the first place, but Sofia's presence was inescapable. Her red dress seemed to glow under the soft lighting of the restaurant, a stark contrast to the cool, controlled expression she wore. Yet he knew better than anyone that beneath that exterior, there was a fire—a fire that attracted him.

Sofia, on the other hand, was doing her best to maintain her composure, but her thoughts kept pulling her back to that last day in Death Valley. She remembered the way Christ had looked at her, his eyes filled with an emotion he could never admit to. It had been the same for her—something neither of them could control, yet something that both of them knew was far too dangerous. They were leaders, powerful forces in their own worlds, and there was no room for vulnerability. But the intensity between them had always defied logic, and now, sitting across from him, Sofia felt the same dangerous pull.

She had to leave. That much was clear to her. Staying here, in his presence, would only stir up emotions she couldn't afford to feel. But just as she was about to excuse herself, Christ spoke.

"Sofia, it's been a long time," he said, his voice low and controlled, though there was an undercurrent of something deeper. "You've been well?"

Sofia met his gaze, her heart tightening at the sound of his voice. She could hear the restraint in his tone, as if he too was fighting the storm inside. She nodded slowly, her lips curving into a small, guarded smile. "Busy, as always. And you?"

Christ leaned back in his chair, his eyes never leaving hers. "The same," he replied, though the word seemed to carry more weight than it should. His calm facade was cracking, and he knew she could see it.

Feng Hue and Julie continued talking, but the words between them faded into the background, irrelevant to the electric tension building at the table.

Julie, noticing the subtle change in atmosphere, glanced between Christ and Sofia, a knowing smile tugging at her lips. "You two seem like you have some catching up to do," she said playfully, oblivious to the deeper meaning behind her words.

Sofia straightened, her expression hardening just a touch, her resolve returning. "Yes, it's been a while," she said coolly, but she couldn't hide the sharp edge in her voice. She was determined not to let her emotions show, not to let him know how deeply he still affected her.

Christ sensed it—the walls she was rebuilding in real-time, the armor she wore so effortlessly. It was the same armor he had built for himself, the one that had forced him to walk away from her in Death Valley, telling himself that it was the right thing to do. But now, sitting across from her, all that resolve felt like a brittle shield, barely holding against the weight of what he truly felt.

"Julie," Sofia said abruptly, her voice calm but distant, "I think it's time we left. I still have some things to finish tonight." It was a lie—Sofia's schedule was clear for the evening. But the urge to escape, to flee from the intensity building between her and Christ, was overwhelming.

Julie frowned, sensing that something was off but not understanding the full depth of it. "But we've barely started," she protested lightly, though she didn't push too hard.

Christ's hand clenched under the table, a fleeting look of frustration passing through his eyes. He wasn't ready to let her leave just yet. His voice, more urgent now, broke through the quiet tension. "Sofia."

She paused, her eyes meeting his once again. The unspoken challenge in his gaze stirred something inside her, something primal and raw. For a moment, it was as if they were back in that battlefield, facing an enemy together, only this time the enemy was themselves—their feelings, their past.

"You don't have to run," Christ said, his voice barely above a whisper, but the intensity in it was unmistakable.

Sofia's breath hitched for a fraction of a second, and for the first time that night, her carefully constructed facade faltered. She wasn't used to this—being seen so clearly, being confronted so directly. Christ's words were a challenge, daring her to stay, daring her to face what she had been avoiding for months.

But Sofia wasn't one to back down from a challenge, even if it terrified her.

"I'm not running," she replied, her voice steady, but the lie was obvious.

Christ's gaze softened, though the tension between them remained, thrumming in the air. "Then stay," he said simply, the weight of his request hanging between them.

Julie looked between them, her confusion growing, but she stayed silent, sensing that something much deeper was happening here. Feng Hue, oblivious, continued talking, but the real conversation was happening in the silence between Sofia and Christ.

Sofia hesitated. Every instinct told her to walk away, to leave before she allowed herself to feel something she couldn't control. But as she looked at Christ, she knew it was already too late. The emotions she had buried for three months were rising to the surface, threatening to overwhelm her.

Without a word, she sat back down, her decision made. She wasn't sure what would happen next, but for the first time in months, she allowed herself to be vulnerable, to let the storm rage on.

Christ's eyes flickered with something unreadable, a mixture of relief and the same fierce intensity that had always drawn her to him. He hadn't expected her to stay, but now that she had, there was no turning back.

The battle between them had only just begun.