Chapter 98

• She walked inside his cabin, and the familiarity of the space mingled with the changes in the interior since she had last been there. The decor was different, more modern and sleek, but the layout of the room was still like a memory whispered to her soul. As she looked around, her eyes fell on a wall where something was hidden behind a curtain. She knew this wall; she was familiar with this cabin from her time working at Veritas Innovations. A wave of nostalgia washed over her as she walked slowly toward it, her heart beating with a quiet anticipation.
• She reached the wall and removed the curtain, and her breath caught in her throat. Her eyes widened in shock, and her lips parted in a silent gasp as she saw that it was a huge picture of herself. The photograph was breathtaking—a beautiful, candid shot of her, capturing a moment of vulnerability and grace. It was as if the picture held a piece of her soul, frozen in time. She was shocked to see this, never having thought that Lewis felt about her "that much." The enormity of the picture, the way it dominated the wall, spoke of an intensity of emotion that left her trembling.
• Lily stood there, rooted to the spot, her mind racing with thoughts about Lewis and his feelings toward her. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes as the realization washed over her—Lewis had kept a giant portrait of her in his cabin. The thought that he loved her enough to do this, to display her image in such a profound way in his private space, overwhelmed her.