Sophia’s P.O.V

I held Nathan’s hand as we moved through the backyard gardens, greeting people one after another. His voice was warm, steady, always knowing the right words to say, while I tried to smile through the exhaustion tugging at me.

“Sophia, this is my cousin, Edmund Rayland,” Nathan said, pulling me gently closer to the tall man standing with a glass in hand.

Edmund inclined his head politely. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Sophia. Nathan has ...