Emma’s POV

The scent of damp earth and blooming jasmine clung to the air, a sweet, grounding balm after the sterile grandeur of the penthouse. Grandma Rose’s garden, a vibrant riot of color and life, was a soothing chaos after the meticulous order of Adrian’s world. Here, amidst the buzzing bees and the rustling leaves, I could almost pretend that the last few months, the contract, the gilded cage, the possessive gaze, the desperate kiss, had all been a dream. Almost.