UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT

ANNA

As the plane finally touches down in Seattle, I feel a mixture of exhaustion and anticipation. The last few days in the Maldives have been a whirlwind of emotions, and now, returning home feels surreal. I can’t shake the feeling that everything has changed—between Damien and me, between myself and the world.

We disembark, and my first thought is how cold Seattle feels compared to the Maldives. I pull my jacket tighter around me as we walk through the private terminal. Everything is a blur, and I almost don’t notice the sleek convoy of cars waiting for us.

But then, I stop. A Rolls-Royce? Followed by a couple of SUVs? My eyes widen, and I turn to Damien, who is walking beside me like this is just another normal day.

"Is this... for us?" I ask, my voice laced with disbelief.

"Yeah," he replies casually like he’s used to this level of grandeur. "It’s ours."

I blink, trying to wrap my head around the idea that I’m about to step into a car that costs more than a house. "Is this... nor