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102. Echoes Over the Lake

Penulis: Meminger
last update Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-03-31 06:34:01

Venus POV

The balcony at Nathalie’s house was a breath of calm amidst the storm of the party—the cool breeze blew in from Lake Michigan on the horizon, where the dark water swallowed the city lights like an upside-down sky.

I was leaning against the railing, the cold metal pressing into my arms, the wind playing with my hair, and Elliot was beside me, close enough that I could feel his warmth without even touching.

The noise of the party inside—the loud music, the laughter, the clinking glasses—felt like a distant echo, and I let my eyes drift to the serene line of the lake, the peace of that place wrapping around me like a blanket I didn’t know I craved. Alice and Connor were still in their little corner, murmuring and giggling, but my mind was all on Elliot, as it always was.

I took a deep breath, the chilly air filling my chest, and the words slipped out before I could hold them back. “You know, Elliot… sometimes, in my craziest moments, I wonder what it’d be like if we’d wor
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