MAYA

The penthouse had started to feel less like a temporary arrangement and more like a routine.

A quiet, terrifying thought kept whispering in the back of my mind—this wasn’t just a pitstop. This was a glimpse into my future. Eventually, this massive glass-walled fortress would be where we lived permanently once we got married.

For weeks now, it had just been the three of us—Silas, myself, and Elena, the lovely housekeeper who moved around the penthouse like a silent shadow.

Outside those glass walls, the public was completely obsessed with us. Every time we stepped out, the public displays of affection were perfectly timed, perfectly photographed, and still completely...