Chapter 10 - The Dawn We Chose
The sun was setting over the northern estate, casting a brilliant palette of amber, violet, and deep crimson across the evening sky.
Out on the wide stone terrace overlooking the private gardens, Sadie and Julian stood side by side, watching the first stars begin to puncture the twilight.
A gentle breeze carried the scent of blooming jasmine and wet earth from the garden below.
Julian reached out, his hand sliding into Sadie’s, their fingers locking together with a familiar, unbreakable grip.
“Thinking about the past?” Julian asked softly, breaking the quiet.
Sadie turned her head, resting her cheek against his shoulder, watching the way the evening light caught the platinum band on her finger and the diamond necklace resting against her collarbone.
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“Not anymore,” she whispered, a peaceful smile touching her lips. “The past is just a place we visited. This... this is where we live.”
Julian wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her tight against his chest as the night settled over their empire, quiet, secure, and eternally safe.
