The vacation house had quieted down, with most of the family retreating to their rooms after dinner. The night air was thick with the scent of the ocean, and a soft breeze rustled the trees lining the garden path. I had excused myself, needing a moment of solitude before heading to bed. My thoughts had been tangled all evening, a mix of memories I didn’t want to resurface and the silent weight of Ethan’s presence beside me.
I walked along the stone path leading to the outdoor lounge area, the glow of warm lanterns casting long shadows on the ground. It was peaceful, the kind of night that should have put my mind at ease. But the moment I stepped around the corner, I stopped abruptly. Lucas was there, leaning against the railing of the deck, his dark eyes already fixed on me as if he’d bee
