Still sitting outside her parents' house, Catarina settled down on the curb beside Henri. Her hands rested uneasily on her knees. Her apprehension was unmistakable. The thought of her father's reaction when he saw her with Henri again weighed heavily on her chest.

Henri noticed immediately.

“Try to stay calm,” he said, gently touching her hand. “Everything's going to be alright. I'll talk to your father... until he understands just how much I love you.”

His voice was so steady, so resolute, tha