The staff moved with quiet efficiency, placing dishes on the table—freshly grilled fish, vibrant salads, and perfectly seared steak. The aroma wrapped around them like a gentle reminder that life, even in the midst of chaos, could still hold ordinary pleasures.
Maya slid into her seat beside Damien, her fingers brushing his as they reached for napkins. He caught her gaze with a faint smile, and she felt that familiar warmth settle in her chest.
The table had settled into an easy rhythm, conversation weaving between light teasing and shared bites. Glasses clinked, the warm breeze carried laughter, and for a moment it felt almost ordinary—like they were just friends gathered on a lazy afternoon.
Harper, ever the instigator, leaned back with a sly grin. “So… Ashcroft. The rumors are true,
