Chapter Forty-Four
The city lights sparkled like a thousand fireflies, casting a soft glow over the penthouse balcony where Elena stood, her hair blowing gently in the evening breeze. She leaned against the railing, watching the skyline stretch endlessly, reflecting on everything that had brought her here: the struggles, the contracts, the betrayals, the rebuilding, and the slow, steady bloom of love she never expected to find.
The faint click of the door behind her drew her attention. Adrian stepped out, dressed in a dark suit that made him look impossibly sharp, impossibly composed. But tonight, there was a softness in his eyes that made her chest tighten.
"Elena," he said, his voice low and steady, carrying the weight of all the words he hadn't spoken over the past months. "May I join you?"
She turned, giving him a small, amused smile. "Of course. You're already here."
He smiled faintly, walking toward her. "Old habits. Still asking permission for things I already want."
