Chapter One Hundred And Thirty six
Venessa POV
The heavy emotional weight of the morning finally began to lift the moment we stepped out of the quiet cafe and back into the bright, crisp afternoon air. The talk with Mateo and Julian had left my mind completely spinning, but the moment Khalid’s large hand slid down to wrap tightly around mine, everything else just faded into the background. He squeezed my fingers, grounding me instantly, and pulled me close to his side as we walked toward his sleek, dark sports car parked along the curb. He opened the passenger door for me with his usual quiet gallantry, making sure I was safely inside before jogging around to the driver's side and sliding into the leather seat next to me.
He didn't start the engine right away. Instead, he rested his han
