After everything Andrea had told him, hearing Catarina say yes felt like air finally returning to his lungs. An immense relief washed over him, warm and almost painful in its intensity. With trembling hands, Henri removed the ring and carefully slid it onto her finger. It fit perfectly, exactly as he had imagined. He knew every detail of that body, every delicate line of that hand, and so there was no doubt: the ring had been made for her.

Once it was in place, he lifted Catarina's hand to his