Chapter 73

• Nina's POV
• The air felt different today—lighter, freer, as if even the universe had decided to give me a break from its relentless trials. Today marked a special occasion: Mrs. Santiagos birthday. Marks grandmother. A powerful matriarch who commanded respect with a single glance. Despite all the chaos that had consumed our lives in the past two weeks, everything finally seemed to be settling into place. Alexa was rotting in jail where she belonged, and Mark had been tirelessly ensuring justice was served.
• Still, something weighed heavy on my chest, a lingering unease I couldnt shake. Perhaps it was because Mark and I hadnt truly connected since the incident. We hadnt talked about "us,"let alone shared a single intimate moment since moving into the hotel. Mark had buried himself in business matters while I found solace in solitude. Was it intentional, or were we both just avoiding reality?