Manila shimmered in a way Olivia had never seen before. The towers of Bonifacio Global City glowed like glass lanterns, their lights reflecting across polished sidewalks and quiet streets. From the backseat of the SUV, she watched the city rush by in streaks of gold and blue, her hands clasped tightly over her purse. Her fingers trembled, not from fear, but from an unfamiliar excitement. It was her first night out in the capital, and the simple idea of eating at Red Ribbon felt impossibly grand.
Simon sat beside her, calm and composed. His posture was straight, his jaw set, his gaze fixed on the passing skyline. He did not speak during the ride, but the silence between them was not sharp or cold. It was simply his nature. Controlled. Steady. A stillness that suggested his thoughts always
