The week after the k********g became a quiet sanctuary for both of them.
Xander refused to return to Harvard. He told his professors it was a family emergency and stayed at the mansion, devoting every moment to Claire. For the first three days, she barely left his arms. The trauma still lingered in nightmares — waking up gasping, reaching for him in panic — but Xander was always there, pulling her close, whispering that she was safe, that he had her.
On the fourth day, they drove to the private beach owned by the Avila family. It was a secluded stretch of coastline with soft golden sand and gentle waves. The sun was beginning its descent, painting the sky in hues of orange, pink, and lavender.
They walked hand in hand along the shoreline, barefoot, the cool water occasionally brushing t
