Her eyes filled with warmth as she held his hand tightly.
In that moment, a memory from my past life flooded my mind. I remembered how things were just after Serena and I had gotten together.
Back then, I was full of hope for our future. I threw myself into our relationship, handling every little thing around the house to make her feel loved and cared for. I wanted her to feel like she truly belonged, that she had a home.
But one night, after she got drunk, I overheard her talking to Cyril.
“I feel like I have no husband,” she said, her voice slurred. “But a dad who has to micromanage me. It’s so annoying. He drives me crazy.”
Then, laughing softly, she added, “But you… you’re different. You know how to give me space. You never make me feel smothered.”
That memory hit me like a punch in the gut, and before I could dwell on it any longer, chaos erupted nearby.
A small dog suddenly darted out of nowhere, sending the crowd into a frenzy. People screamed and stumbled to get out of the way.
The commotion jolted me back to reality just as the dog charged toward me.
I reached out to pull Stephanie back, but before I could, someone shoved me hard from behind.
I lost my balance and stumbled over the safety line, finding myself dangerously close to the fired materials.
The crowd’s shouts and warnings blended into one chaotic roar.
Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a figure running toward me through the crowd.
For a brief moment, hope flickered in my chest. Was Serena coming to help me?
But no.
She rushed past me without hesitation and went straight to Cyril, who had also been pushed past the safety line.
What am I even hoping for?
I wanted to laugh at myself, but it felt too hollow. All I could feel was the sting of irony.
Thankfully, Stephanie appeared just in time. She helped me back over the safety line, supporting me as I limped on an injured ankle.
As we stepped away from the crowd, she turned to me, her voice filled with excitement. “The confession setup is ready! Let’s hurry back and see how it goes!”
Albion's POV
Stephanie pulled me to the front entrance of the farmhouse inn.
Hanging from the love tree by the door were heart-shaped fairy lights, each one shimmering softly in the evening breeze. Among them were tokens of their past: handwritten love letters and photos of the two of them together.