Chapter 71

• CHRISTIAN
• The moment we stepped into the penthouse, it felt a lot more peaceful than it had in days. She was here, and that was all the peace I needed. Liam disappeared with a tired wave, mumbling something about retiring from both security work and dessert-testing for good.
• Penelope walked ahead of me, slipping off her sandals, stretching her toes with a soft sigh that somehow echoed louder in my head than it did in the room. The curve of her spine, the way her dress clung to her hips—it wasn’t fair. Not after dinner. Not after the silence. Not with the dull ache still tucked beneath my ribs.