Chapter 251

• Sunlight spilled through the sheer curtains, soft and golden, scattering across the wooden floor of our bedroom. I opened my eyes slowly, feeling the steady warmth of Julian’s arm draped across my waist. For the first time in years, there was no rush, no storm pressing on my chest, only a gentle calm that settled deep in my bones.
• I turned slightly to look at him, the rise and fall of his breathing steady, serene. His hand found mine, fingers curling naturally around mine without any words. The engagement ring glinted softly in the morning light, a quiet promise, a reminder that everything had finally found its place.
• I let myself stay there for a while, savoring the comfort of his presence. The city outside stirred faintly, but here, in this small apartment on 8th Street, time seemed to slow. Every worry, every regret, every shadow from the past felt distant, like it belonged to another life.