"And you?" she whispered. "You're truly… ready?"
Horace didn't answer.
Not with words.
He leaned in and kissed her—slowly, reverently. It wasn't a rushed kiss or a desperate one. It was the kind of kiss that carried vows, the kind that said more than language ever could. A kiss that held devotion, fear of losing her, relief that she was safe, and a promise carved straight from his soul.
When he finally pulled back, his forehead rested against hers, their breaths mingling.
"For you, Ariel," he murmured, voice thick and raw. "I am ready for everything."
Her eyes trembled, shimmering like liquid stars.
And with that… the decision was made.
Horace pulled her close, wrapped securely in his arms, and the world dissolved into pale mist around them. A heartbeat later, they materialized outside her villa, where the last colors of sunset painted everything gold.
Outside, Xavier and Alicia looked up the moment the pair stepped in.
Alicia's smile was warm and knowing.
