Novel-novel oleh Precious Sweet

CHAPTER FIFTY FIVEALEXANDER'S POV Monday evening I got home before Sophia. The framing photos from the day sat on my phone, but I waited to show her in person. When she walked through the door, I met her in the hallway and pulled her straight into a kiss.“You look tired,” I said against her lips.“Long board meeting.” She rested her forehead on my shoulder. “But I kept thinking about the frame. Show me what I missed today.”I took her hand and led her to the couch, opening the photos. “They finished the second floor joists. The studio platform is framed exactly to your height spec. Look.”Sophia scrolled through, her body leaning into mine. “It looks right. You kept the north windows unobstructed like I asked.” She turned to me, eyes soft. “You remember every detail I throw at you. That still surprises me. It makes me feel important to you in a way that goes deep.”I slid my arm around her waist. “You are important. I stood on the lot today thinking about how the light will hit you

CHAPTER FIFTY FOURSOPHIA'S POV Sunday the framing continued under gray skies. I arrived at the lot with fresh coffee and found Alexander already marking the next wall with the lead framer. He looked up, and his face changed the moment he saw me.“You came early,” he said, walking straight to me.“I couldn’t stay away.” I handed him the coffee, letting my fingers linger against his. “I kept thinking about the studio corner all night. Show me where the interior walls will meet.”Alexander took my hand and led me through the partial frame. “Here. But I was waiting for you. If you still want that wider opening for the studio door, we can adjust the header placement now before they lock it in.”I studied the marks, then looked at him. “You waited. Even though it would have been faster to proceed. That means more than you know. Most men would have moved forward. You hold space for my opinion. It makes me feel valued in a way I’ve never had before.”He stepped closer, voice low. “Because y

CHAPTER FIFTY THREE**ALEXANDER**Saturday morning the framing crew arrived early. I met Sophia at the lot before eight. She handed me a thermos of coffee without a word, and I took it, our fingers brushing longer than needed.“The first posts are going in today,” I said. “I want your eyes on the studio layout before they lock it.”Sophia nodded, stepping close so our arms touched. “Good. I dreamed about the north wall last night. The light angle. I think we need to shift the header two inches higher for the windows. Does that mess with your structure?”I looked at her, chest tightening. “It doesn’t. I can adjust the beam. You dreamed about it. That means you’re carrying this with me even when you’re asleep. I love that. It makes me want to redesign the whole thing if it gives you one better morning in that studio.”She smiled, small and warm. “You would. That’s what gets me. You actually listen and change things. I keep thinking about it during my quiet moments how you make space for

CHAPTER FIFTY TWO **SOPHIA**I got back to the lot just after three. The excavator was quiet for the moment, and Alexander stood with Dessa over the fresh marks in the dirt. I walked straight to him and slid my hand into his without thinking.“Show me where we are,” I said.He pointed it out, voice calm. “Studio footing is exactly where you wanted the light angle. I made the shift this morning.”I looked at the lines, then at him. My chest did that tight, warm thing again. “You really did it. No debate, no ‘maybe later.’ Just done.” I squeezed his hand. “That kind of follow-through makes me trust you deeper than I expected. I keep catching myself thinking about it during board meetings how steady you are when I ask for something.”Alexander turned toward me, thumb brushing my knuckles. “Because what you ask for matters. I want this house to carry your voice in every corner. Every time you speak up, I feel this pull to make it right for you. You fascinate me, Sophia. The way you know

CHAPTER FIFTY ONE**ALEXANDER**Thursday morning the crew showed up early. Sophia and I arrived at the lot just after eight. Hard hats on, breath visible in the cold air. Dessa handed us both updated site plans and pointed out where the first cuts would happen.“I want to watch the excavator start,” Sophia said, standing close enough that our arms touched. “Then I need to leave for the foundation board, but I’ll be back by three if you’re still here.”I nodded, but inside I felt that familiar pull. She didn’t have to come at all, yet here she was, boots in the dirt, making time. “Stay as long as you can. I like having you here when things begin.”She looked up at me, eyes steady. “I like being here. With you. It feels different when we’re doing this together instead of me just hearing about it later.”The excavator fired up. We stood side by side as the first bite of earth came out. Sophia’s hand slipped into mine without either of us saying anything. Her fingers were cold, but the gr

CHAPTER FIFTY**ALEXANDER**Wednesday evening Dessa sent the final crew schedule. Demolition prep started Monday. I forwarded it to Sophia while she was still at the gallery. Her reply came fast: “Good. I cleared my Thursday afternoon. I want to be there when they first break ground.”I stared at the message longer than I should have. The fact that she was already shifting her own work to stand beside me on the lot hit me hard. I wanted her there, not just for the build, but because every shared decision pulled us closer. She fascinated me more each day how she moved through her world with such clear boundaries and still chose to make room for mine without hesitation.When she walked through the apartment door an hour later, I met her in the hallway. She barely had time to set her bag down before I pulled her in.“You cleared Thursday,” I said against her hair.She wrapped her arms around my waist and held on. “Of course I did. This isn’t just your project anymore. It stopped being th