And for the first time since everything went to hell… It all started to make sense.
She’s definitely worth it. Every second.
My anchor.
My future.
My everything.
The only reason I’m doing what I’m doing now—why I’m crossing lines I swore never to cross.
My reason. My light. My Maya.
Ashcroft was right.
I crashed into her quiet world and shook it. Hard.
And now… now I have to be patient while she finds her way into mine—at her own pace.
And this? This is what that looks like.
This dinner, this softness in her voice, the fire I see trembling behind those eyes…
She’s starting to fight her own fears.
And slowly, gently, willingly…
She’s walking into my world.
I’ve never wanted anything more than for her to stay.
A soft breath trembled from her chest, barely audible—but I felt i
