Aria’s POV
What the hell…
Hope ran past me before I could even move. Straight to Marcel. Bouncing and Beaming.
Marcel dropped to one knee in front of her, his expression softening in a way that made my chest ache.
“Your shoes are pretty,” he said gently.
“Thank you,” Hope replied, and before I could stop her, she fell into his arms. He caught her easily, holding her like she belonged there—like he’d been waiting years for that single moment. He kissed her cheek, closed his eyes, and just… breathed her in.
I should be mad. Furious, even. She wasn’t supposed to talk to strangers, let alone hug them. But as I watched the two of them—her tiny arms around his neck, his hands steady on her back—I couldn’t move. My heart felt too full.
“You’re early… it starts by two,” Hope said when she f
