Stella's POV
The late afternoon sun cast golden hues across the pool area where I sat with my mother and grandmother, unpacking the emotional rollercoaster of the past forty-eight hours. They listened patiently, their wisdom flowing freely as they offered advice about my recent behavior.
"If you had simply asked Adrian directly instead of assuming, you could have spared yourself all those tears," my mother said, her tone gentle but pointed.
Grandmother reached for my hand, her fingers warm and reassuring. "Darling, marriage requires trust above all else. If you enter this union without truly trusting him, the foundation will be shaky from the start. Take it from someone who's been there."
"I promise I won't jump to conclusions again," I admitted, feeling heat rise to my cheeks as I acknowledged my tendency to act impulsively.
