Chapter 14 I Love You

• The drive back was silent—but not the kind that weighed heavy. It was solemn, grounding. Like the kind of silence you share with someone who finally sees you.
• Elira leaned into her seat, the last glimpse of the ocean vanishing behind them. The wind tousled her hair through the half-cracked window, carrying with it the scent of salt and eucalyptus. She turned her head slowly, catching Lucien’s gaze. Their eyes met, and in that shared look, something old was buried—something new allowed to bloom.
• He reached out and held her hand.