The city was quiet in the early morning, streets glistening under a fresh layer of snow that had fallen overnight. Emma wrapped her scarf tightly and stepped outside, boots crunching against the icy sidewalks. Her mind was still tangled in the tension of yesterday—the unspoken worries, the weight of responsibility, the lingering fear that the first real conflict between her and Liam might leave a crack in their bond.
Yet, as she walked toward the café where they had planned to meet, she felt a flutter of anticipation. Today was their chance to reconcile, to rebuild the fragile bridge that had been tested by distance, work, and expectation.
Liam was already there when she arrived, sitting by the window, coffee in hand. His gaze lifted as she entered, and for a moment, time seemed suspende
