The Jimenez estate seemed to rise from the land rather than rest upon it, as though the earth itself had shaped its foundations. The trees along the driveway stood tall and ancient, their branches arching overhead like a corridor of history. Stone lanterns cast soft reflections across the polished path, guiding the car forward with a calm assurance that needed no ornament or display. Olivia stepped out with a quiet breath, and awe moved through her chest like a tide. It was no longer the sharp fear of an outsider. It was something gentler. A reverence she could not fully name.
Inside, the luncheon felt intentional in its intimacy. Only four places were set at the long table. Only four voices. Alvaro was in Manila finalizing corporate negotiations. Alfonso was in Singapore attending aviati
