Alina’s POV
I had learned to walk forward slowly, deliberately, with eyes open, and heart willing. And in that willingness, I felt the steady certainty of hope returning, stronger than ever.
Morning arrived quietly, the sunlight spilling through the curtains like liquid gold, painting patterns across the wooden floors. I lingered in bed for a moment, listening to the rhythm of the waves, letting the calm wash over me.
The beach house felt like a cocoon, a space outside the chaos of the world, where the air carried hope instead of threat, and where every breath reminded me that I had chosen to stay.
I rose and padded into the kitchen, barefoot, taking in the familiar warmth of home. Sebastian was already there, carefully slicing fruit for breakfast, moving with deliberate calm.
He gl
