Chapter 77

Emma's POV

Deep down, despite all my fears and doubts, I knew that he was different and that he was worth the risk.

But for now, I’d take it one step at a time, one moment at a time, letting the tension between us build until I was ready to embrace whatever it was that was growing between us. And when that day came, I hoped that I’d be brave enough to face it, to let go of the past and embrace the future that was waiting for me, just beyond the edge of the cliff.

Because as much as the thought of falling scared me, the thought of never taking that leap, of never knowing what could have been, scared me even more.

I wanted him but was scared that maybe it was fake, a part of our original plan

“You don’t have to say anything,” he replied, his thumb brushing gently across my cheek. “Just…be here with me. Right now.”

And so I did. I let myself be present in the moment, soaking in the warmth of his touch, the depth of his gaze, the connection that was building between us. The world around