The car ride back to the hotel was quiet. The sky had darkened, the streets illuminated by the soft golden glow of Parisian street lights.

Serena sat comfortably in the passenger seat, her bags from the day’s shopping neatly placed beside her, while Phillippe drove with an effortless ease.

The entire day had been… surprising. She had let herself indulge in the beauty of Paris, in the luxury of shopping, in the moment.

But now, reality was setting back in. Tomorrow, she would be on a plane ...