Chapter 29 - The Midnight Stroll
After dinner, instead of taking the armored limousine back to the penthouse, Ethan and Maya chose to walk through the quiet, beautifully lit streets along the Chicago Riverwalk.
The city around them hummed with distant life, the towering skyscrapers piercing the night sky like silent monuments to human ambition. The air was cool against their skin, but walking side-by-side with their fingers securely interlaced, neither of them felt the chill.
Maya rested her head lightly against Ethan’s shoulder as they paused near the railing, watching the river reflect the neon lights of the Loop.
“Do you ever look at all of this—the buildings, the ports, the foundation—and wonder how we ended up here?” she asked softly.
Ethan looked down at her, his dark eyes shining with an absolute, unwavering devotion that outshone every light in the city.
“I don't wonder, Maya,” he answered, pulling her closer against his side. “I calculated the odds the moment I saw you standing in my study with that red pen. You were the only variable in my life that couldn't be predicted, controlled, or replaced.”
May you like
“And what was the final outcome?” she teased gently.
“Perfection,” Ethan murmured, leaning down to capture her lips in a deep, timeless kiss.
