The coastal town was nothing like the city.
Here, mornings started quietly, with soft winds carrying the salty smell of the sea. Instead of endless traffic and tall glass towers, there were fishing boats lined along the docks, their paint chipped and faded by years of use. The streets were narrow and winding, dotted with small shops and modest homes, each with flower boxes or laundry swaying on simple lines.
It was the kind of place where life moved slower, and people noticed when someone new arrived.
That had made Arielle nervous at first.
She didn’t want to be noticed. She didn’t want questions. But after three weeks here, she’d learned that while people were curious, they were also respectful. The locals would greet her with polite smiles and quick nods but didn’t pry much beyond th
