Episode 21
The terrace was quieter than the ballroom, the muffled music drifting out through open French doors. Marilyn leaned against the railing, her gown rippling faintly in the night breeze. Lucas stood close enough that she felt the heat of his presence, the steadiness that had drawn her toward him in the first place. Her chest still carried the ache of her earlier words—*where do I stand in your life?*—but for the moment, she let the question fall aside. The stars above glittered, hidden behind the haze of city lights, yet she felt as if Lucas’s gaze was brighter, more grounding. “Do you regret coming tonight?” he asked quietly. Marilyn shook her head. “No. Not with you.” His hand brushed against hers, deliberate, slow. She let her fingers slip into his, and for a beat, the world shrank dow
- Writer
