CHAPTER SIXTY-EIGHT
Rina
The morning sun slanted through the tall windows, spilling golden light across the expanse of Lucian's estate. The house was quiet again the kind of serene stillness that made you forget how vast it truly was. Somewhere in the distance, the faint hum of the gardeners' trimmers blended with the rustle of leaves.
I stood by the window, cup of tea in hand, watching dew shimmer across the manicured lawns. The scent of freshly cut roses wafted through the open glass, soft and familiar.
Yesterday had been… perfect.
Lucian's parents had been nothing like I'd feared. His mother's gentle smile, the way his father laughed with the girls, the acceptance in their eyes it had been years since I'd felt that kind of warmth at a family table. Years since I'd felt like belonging wasn't something I had to earn.
Now, standing here, I could still hear their laughter echoing faintly in my mind.
