The setting sun painted the Lockwood mansion's gardens in shades of amber and gold, casting long shadows across the perfectly manicured lawns.
Isla walked among the blooming flowers, their sweet fragrance doing little to calm her racing thoughts.
Her recent visit to Maria, her dramatic rescue mission weighed heavily on her mind, secrets pressing against her chest like physical weights.
As she rounded the marble fountain, her breath caught at the sight of Liam. He stood tall and powerful against the dying light, water droplets from the fountain catching the sun's rays behind him like a shower of diamonds. The moment he spotted her, his face lit up with a smile that made her heart skip.
"Isla!" His voice carried across the garden, wrapping around her like a warm embrace.
She didn't hesitate, closing the distance between them in quick steps before falling into his arms.
The familiar scent of him – pine needles and mountain air, with an underlying warmth that was uniquely Liam – envelo
