"You're brooding again."

Alden's rich baritone broke through her reverie, his solid warmth enveloping her as he settled onto the buttery leather sofa beside her. Instinctively, she leaned into him, drawing strength from his unwavering presence.

"Can you blame me?" she murmured, her fingers toying idly with the delicate chain that hung around her neck. "After everything we've been through, everything we've sacrificed, it feels like we're standing on the precipice of something monumental."

Alden's arm snaked around her shoulders, anchoring her to the present. "We've faced uncertainty before, Evelina. And each time, we've emerged victorious, stronger than ever."

She tilted her head, her gaze finding his in the dim,...