James looked at her with both firmness and tenderness.“Then tell her,” he said quietly. “But at the right time. You tried today, and she wasn’t ready. Her heart’s in pieces. She needs to process all of this—to cry, to be angry. It’s part of it. The truth, when it hits like an explosion, can terrify, can destroy… but it can also rebuild.”Emma gripped the fabric of his shirt, silent, seeking comfort in the only place where love still lived.“And what if she never listens to me?” she asked in a trembling voice. “What if she keeps hating me?”“Then you wait,” James replied softly. “One day, the pain she feels will turn into longing… into curiosity… into the desire to understand. And when that day comes, you’ll be here, waiting for her—with open arms. Because that’s what mothers do.”Emma’s sobs returned.“I just wish I could hold her… once. Just once…”James took her face in both hands and met her eyes.“You will, Emma. Your daughter is strong. Sensitive, yes—but strong. And when the st

Still wrapped in a silk sheet, Sabrina sat at the edge of the luxurious hotel bed, her expression smug. With a self-satisfied smile, she picked up her phone and dialed.“Hello?” came Isabela’s groggy voice.“Isa, wake up. The plan worked. I did it,” Sabrina said, her tone triumphant.“You’re kidding—really? You and Arthur…?”“Yes,” she replied, stretching lazily. “We slept together. He was insatiable. You could tell he hadn’t touched anyone in a long time.”“What a wonderful update, Sabrina. Now that’s how to start my day.” Isabela let out a sharp laugh. “I’ll admit, I didn’t think you’d pull it off. But you played the victim well when he woke up, right?”“I’m a natural actress,” Sabrina replied, dripping sarcasm. “Told him he dragged me out of the bar, called the cab himself, brought me here. That he was happy but perfectly lucid. He kept calling me Zoe all night, but other than that… it was perfect. Brought back old memories.”“Save the nostalgia, darling,” Isabela cut in. “Stay rat

Gabriel stepped out of Celina’s room to take Ava’s call, and even after hanging up, her dry, decisive tone still echoed in his mind. He knew it wasn’t jealousy—Ava wasn’t that kind of woman. But he also knew her well enough to recognize that logical, disciplined nature of hers—almost mathematical in its precision—that didn’t tolerate lapses, especially when it came to previously scheduled commitments.As he walked down the hallway toward the balcony to get some fresh air before returning to the room, he typed out a message:> “I’m leaving now, will you wait for me?”The reply came within seconds.> “No need. I already left the restaurant. I’m staying at my apartment tonight.”No room for doubt. No space for negotiation. No second chances. That was Ava—clear, direct, and mercilessly objective.Gabriel stared at the phone for a few seconds before slipping it into his pocket. He took a deep breath, rubbed his hands over his face, and tried to process the frustrating sensation that someho

Ava arched an eyebrow, that subtle gesture full of quiet defiance.“Time for what?”“For doing something you didn’t plan,” Gabriel murmured, stopping right in front of her, his gaze steady and intent. “For feeling.”Ava exhaled softly, caught off guard by the gravity in his tone. He raised a hand to her face, his fingertips brushing her skin with tender precision. His eyes—deep, searching—didn’t just ask for desire; they asked for surrender.“I know you like to keep everything under control, Ava. Your world runs on order, predictability, and balance. But…” He leaned closer, his lips grazing her ear. “…what if, just for today, you let your heart take the lead?”She closed her eyes, trying to steady herself. Every word he spoke seemed to awaken something inside her that had long been asleep.“Gabriel…” she whispered, her voice softer than usual, trembling between restraint and yearning. “…you have no idea what you’re doing to me.”“I think I do,” he murmured, pulling her gently by the w

She paused for a moment, taking a deep breath.“There is always someone in this world waiting for another—whether in the heart of a desert or the middle of a crowded city. And when those two souls finally meet, when their eyes truly see each other, the past and the future lose all meaning. Only that moment remains. That miraculous certainty that everything under the sun was written by the same hand—the hand that awakens love. The hand that made a soulmate for every person who works, rests, and dreams beneath the sky. Because without that, the dreams of humankind would have no purpose at all.”Celina closed her eyes for a second, feeling those words weave themselves around her heart.“Now,” the officiant continued softly, “Celina and Thor will share their vows. Thor, you may begin.”Thor gently squeezed Celina’s hands, his voice trembling as he spoke.“Celina… you came into my life like a storm. You turned everything upside down—with noise, with chaos, with light. You taught me that lo