The afternoon sun was warm on the balcony as they finished their wine, the remnants of the deep conversation lingering in the air. Killian settled the bill with a flick of his wrist, and they descended the spiral stairs back into the vibrant energy of the Parisian streets.
They were walking hand-in-hand, Raya still feeling the glow of his words, when a woman appeared through the crowd like a vision. She was quintessentially Parisian—impeccably dressed in a sharp blazer and silk scarf, her beauty the kind that felt effortless and intimidating all at once.
Her eyes locked onto Killian, and her face lit up with a shock of recognition. "Killian Blackwood? Is that really you?"
She didn't even glance at Raya. It was as if Raya were a ghost standing on the cobblestones. The woman stepped direc
