Elias pulled into the wide driveway of the Denovan estate, his hands steady on the wheel though his chest carried a quiet storm of feelings. The evening had been long, but to him, it still felt too short. Every second beside Maya only reminded him how deeply she had settled into his life.

As the car rolled to a stop, Elias glanced sideways. Maya was smiling softly, her hands folded neatly in her lap. She looked calm, but there was still a sparkle in her eyes a kind of brightness he wanted to guard forever.

“Thank you,” she said gently, breaking the silence. “For everything today. You stood by me...