Chapter 47

• The drive back was filled with a comfortable silence, punctuated by the occasional shared laugh or whispered comment. They had spent the last few days pouring over their past, dredging up the painful memories, the betrayals, and the agonizing misunderstandings. Now, a sense of lightness permeated their being, a lightness born not of forgetting, but of acceptance and understanding. The weight of their shared past, once a crushing burden, now felt like a shared experience, a testament to the strength of their bond.
• Cleo glanced at Rowan, his profile illuminated by the rising sun. His eyes, usually filled with a brooding intensity, were soft, reflecting the peace that had settled between them. He looked peaceful, almost serene, and in that moment, Cleo felt a surge of gratitude, a profound appreciation for the man beside her. He was not just her lover; he was her rock, her confidante, her partner in crime, and most importantly, her friend.
• They arrived at Cleo’s small cottage, a humble dwelling that held both painful memories and burgeoning hope. It was a place where she had endured Julian’s abuse, a place where she had felt trapped and powerless. But now, with Rowan by her side, it no longer felt like a prison. It felt like a sanctuary.