Chapter 43

• The evening breeze carried the scent of lavender from the garden below, drifting through the open balcony doors. Danielle stood near the railing, a glass of wine in her hand, her mind still reeling from the events of the past few days.
• Since Alexander had asked her to be his girlfriend, things had shifted—not drastically, but enough that she felt it. The weight in her chest was lighter, the air between them charged but tender.
• Inside the penthouse, the soft melody of a jazz playlist played from hidden speakers. Theo had already gone to bed, tucked in with his favorite story and a soft promise that Danielle would be there in the morning.