Chapter 137

• Damien awoke with the soft rays of the morning sun filtering through the window, casting a gentle glow over the room. He lay still for a moment, eyes half-lidded, savoring the warmth of Charlotte tucked snugly in his arms. The world beyond the soft cocoon they created seemed distant and unimportant. A profound sense of joy filled him, more intense than anything he had felt in years. He loved her—deeply, irrevocably.
• He glanced down at Charlotte, her dark hair cascading over both their bodies like a soft veil. In her peaceful slumber, she looked so serene, as if she held all the promises of the world within her. Damien knew that he had to protect that serenity, that happiness he felt wrapped in her embrace. She was the one for him, and he wanted to keep her forever—no doubts, no hesitations.
• Sitting up carefully so as not to disrupt her, Damien slipped out of bed, the chill of the floor promising a busy day ahead. He padded into the kitchen, his mind already racing with plans. Today wouldn’t just be another day; today was the first step toward a future he dreamed of with Charlotte.