Chapter 51

• The decision hung heavy in the air, an unspoken question mark hanging over their future. They sought counsel from friends and family, but the advice only amplified the confusion. Some urged Rowan to seize the opportunity, to prioritize his career, to ensure a secure future. Others pleaded with them to prioritize their relationship, to safeguard the fragile happiness they had built together. They were caught in a crossfire of well-meaning but conflicting opinions.
• One evening, walking along the rocky Maine coastline, under the vast, star-studded sky, Cleo finally voiced her deepest fear: "What if this opportunity tears us apart, Rowan? What if it changes us, irrevocably?"
• Rowan stopped, turning to face her, his eyes reflecting the starlight. He took her hand, his touch sending a comforting warmth through her. “It won’t,” he said, his voice low and steady. “Not if we don’t let it. We'll face this together, just like we've faced everything else. We'll build our future, not just survive it. It won't be easy, I know, but we're stronger together than we are apart.”