Chapter 31 - Chapter 31 - Reflections Under the Stars
Later that evening, long after the guests had departed and the estate had settled into a peaceful silence, Gabriel and Tessa walked out onto the stone veranda. The cool night air carried the delicate fragrance of blooming jasmine from the courtyard below, and the city skyline glittered in the distance like a quiet crown of stars.
Gabriel wrapped his arms securely around Tessa’s waist, pulling her close against his chest as they watched the horizon. "Sometimes I look back at the night we met at Ilvento," he murmured softly against her hair, "and I wonder how different my life would be if you had dropped that water glass and run away."
Tessa smiled, turning slightly to look up into his devoted dark eyes. "I never run away, Gabriel," she replied with quiet confidence. "I just waited for the right moment to change the game." Gabriel smiled, pulling her into a deep, tender embrace that spoke of everything they had overcome together.
