Chapter 27
The Pause That Heals The vineyards stretched like a velvet ribbon over golden hills. Leona stepped off the train in Tuscany and blinked against the soft sunlight. The air smelled like warm bread, fresh herbs, and freedom. She turned in a slow circle, taking it in. There was no schedule here. No press. No boardroom. Just her and Elias. For the first time in forever, no one needed her but her. “I think this place might be magic,” she murmured. Elias slid his sunglasses on and smirked. “Welcome to my master plan.” Their villa wasn’t huge. It didn’t have to be. Two bedrooms, ivy crawling up the stone walls, a garden blooming with lavender and tomatoes. A stray cat greeted them like a landlord. Inside, the windows were always open. The air moved slow, like it had nowhere else to be. Neith
- Writer
