The familiar skyline appeared through the car window, blurry in the late afternoon haze—but there was no mistaking it.
Home.
After months away, Europe already felt like some wild, beautiful dream they’d barely woken from. The streets of Amsterdam, Paris, Rome… all of it seemed like another lifetime.
But now, they were back.
The car pulled up to the compound gates, and Evelyn’s heart gave a quiet, steady thump.
She wasn’t nervous.
Not anymore.
She was different now—stronger, steadier, with the world still clinging to her skin.
Mason stood waiting near the front steps as they pulled in, arms crossed, that familiar, guarded look on his face—though the faintest flicker of relief broke through when she stepped out of the car.
Evelyn didn’t hesitate.
The moment her feet hit the ground,
