Chapter 978

As evening fell, Maria slowly woke up.

A soft, muted glow filled the room, and for a moment, she felt a bit disoriented. Just then, she noticed an added weight on her. Looking down, she saw Sidney’s arm draped over her.

Turning her head, she found him still asleep, his breathing calm and steady, his body pressed close to hers.

In the dim light, Maria quietly watched him for a while, a soft smile gradually forming on her lips. She thought, perhaps her decision had been the right one after all. Marriage wasn’t so bad.

She didn’t move, just lay there watching him for a few more moments. Though she couldn’t fall back asleep, she didn’t want to wake him either.

As dusk settled in and the room darkened, Sidney began to stir. He turned over, but his arm remained around her.

"Are you awake?" Maria asked.

"Yeah," Sidney responded softly, leaning in to kiss her cheek. "Hungry?"

Maria replied, "A little. We’ve got dinner plans tonight. We can head straight there."

Sidney nodded. "Alright."

Maria