The journey back was wrapped in comfortable silence, Rowan walking steadily beside Liora, his quiet presence speaking volumes.
She suddenly turned to study his sharp, handsome features, a quiet curiosity rising within her. It was strange—after all this time together, he had given her his whole heart, yet she knew nothing of the scars he carried from his past.
Resting her head against his shoulder, she whispered, "Rowan... what was your life like before we met?"
Rowan's body went rigid. The world only ever saw the successful businessman—no one had ever cared about the broken boy he had been. After a heartbeat, he covered her hand with his, his voice carrying that familiar warmth.
"Once there was a kid left to rot like yesterday's garbage. He dug through trash bins, scrubbed dishes until
