*ADELINE*
I settled under that tree, the one with the gnarled roots and fluttering leaves, the very spot where everything seemed to change overnight. It was always surprising how a simple piece of nature could feel so weighted with memory. I took a deep breath, letting the crisp morning air fill my lungs. The flowers were blooming now, vibrant colors popping against the backdrop of rich greens, but my heart was anything but light.
Last night was a whirlwind. Vincenzo had leaned in close, his warm breath an all-too-inviting whisper as he promised me the moon and stars. I could still hear his voice in my ears, a seductive melody that made every nerve in my body tingle with excitement. "Adeline," he said, those deep, velvety tones wrapping around my name as if he had been singing it fore
