The morning sunlight was pale, filtered through the thick curtains of Emma’s apartment. Snow continued to fall outside, layering the city in pristine white. Emma sat at her desk, sketches spread before her, coffee cooling at her side, and a letter resting heavily in her hands.
It was an offer she had longed for—a collaborative project with an international design firm, a chance to work on a global scale. The excitement she felt was undeniable, her heart leaping at the possibilities. Yet beneath it all, an ache lingered—a tug at her chest that had little to do with ambition and everything to do with Liam.
Her phone buzzed. Liam.
Morning. Big day?
Emma typed slowly, hesitating: Yes… we need to talk tonight. Important.
The message was simple, but the weight of it pressed on her. She coul
