CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX – RINA
(Rina's POV)
The first morning in Arden City dawned bright and golden.
I woke to the sound of little feet padding into my room.
"Mama," Isla whispered, crawling under the covers. "The city is so loud!"
"It's not loud," Lila corrected from the doorway, her stuffed bunny clutched in her hand. "It's busy. It's exciting!
I smiled, pulling Isla closer,. "You are both right. This city never really sleeps.
Arden City was a masterpiece after dark, a place that refused to rest when the sun dipped behind its skyline. The city was a living, breathing entity that came alive with a heartbeat of its own. The day belonged to business, but the night belonged to dreamers, lovers, and the reckless souls who craved more than daylight could offer.
By twilight, the streets were dressed in gold and shadow, and the entire city seemed to stretch, yawn, and slip into something bolder. Neon signs blinked awake one after the other, painting the sidewalks with electric light. Restaurants flung their doors open, filling the air with the mouthwatering aroma of roasted garlic, seared steak, and sizzling street food. The clinking of glasses from upscale bistros blended with the sizzling of food trucks that lined the boulevards, making sure no craving however fancy or humble went unanswered.
The nightlife was a tapestry of contrasts. At one end of the city, rooftop bars glittered like constellations, with glass railings framing a breathtaking view of the skyline. Champagne flowed freely, and laughter sparkled like fireworks as Arden's elite toasted to another deal closed, another secret shared. At the other end, the underground music scene throbbed with bass in converted warehouses and graffiti-covered alleys, where young rebels danced like they had nothing to lose.
The streets stayed crowded, never in a rush but always moving couples strolling hand in hand, groups of friends hopping from bar to bar, and night owls who swore the best ideas came at 3 a.m. Street performers turned the city corners into theaters: a saxophonist under a streetlamp pouring his soul into every note, dancers spinning on cardboard, and poets reciting verses to anyone who cared to listen.
Food stalls stayed open until dawn, serving everything from spicy noodles to sugary crepes, keeping the city's insomniacs satisfied. Cabs and rideshares zipped past, their headlights cutting through the dark like fireflies, ferrying people to wherever the night would take them.
And above it all, Arden's skyscrapers glittered like silent witnesses, their windows glowing some with late-night office warriors, some with lovers wrapped in their own world, some with artists sketching by lamplight. The city never stopped breathing, never stopped whispering to its inhabitants that here, in Arden, the night was yours for the taking.
In Arden City, morning wasn't the beginning it was the intermission. The real story started after dark.
We spent the morning unpacking and turning the apartment into a home. Liora had arrived late the previous night, exhausted from a rehearsal but beaming when she saw the girls.
Now, she moved around the kitchen with practiced grace, making pancakes while humming softly.
"Your kitchen is already prettier than mine," she teased, flipping a pancake with a little flourish.
"Because you don't cook," I shot back, laughing.
"True." She leaned against the counter. "But I play the piano like no one else can, so I think I win."
The twins giggled at that, proud of their honorary aunt.
After breakfast, we went exploring. The city felt both familiar and strange the streets I once knew so well now gleamed with new cafés and shops.
The girls ran ahead, pointing at every fountain, busker, and flower stall they saw. I followed slowly, soaking in the sights and smells fresh bread from a corner bakery, roasted chestnuts from a vendor, the faint metallic tang of the subway beneath our feet.
When we passed a boutique perfume shop, Liora nudged me. "One day, this will be yours."
"One day soon," I said quietly, heart beating faster.
In the afternoon, we met a few of Liora's colleagues at a cozy café near the concert hall. They were warm and welcoming, and the twins were quick to charm them, showing off the tiny dance they'd learned in preschool.
"You're settling in faster than I thought you would," Liora said as we walked back home.
"I think I'm ready to," I admitted. "I spent so long running from this place. Maybe it's time I stop."
Liora glanced at me, her eyes soft. "I'm proud of you."
That night, after the girls were asleep, we sat on the balcony with cups of tea, watching the city lights glitter like fallen stars.
"Do you ever think about the past?" I asked quietly.
Liora's fingers tightened around her mug. "Sometimes. But I try not to stay there too long. Life's too short."
I nodded, not pushing. Whatever had driven her away from this city years ago was still a wound she wasn't ready to open. I would wait as long as it took.
For now, it was enough that we were both here.
Together.