Beneath the Skyline

as if the world had slowed down, allowing her to savor every stolen glance and whisp

ing email on his screen. The subject line read: "A Blast from Your Past." Attached was a photo of him wit

ra know a

romance had ended years before he ever met Clara, but the breakup had been messy, splashed

ked lightly on the door. "Sir, you have a meeting with M

a couple. Clara had been nervous about stepping into his world, but he'd promised her he'd protect her.

t Ethan's assistant, who directed her to his private meeting room. When she e

r things down. "What's going on? Y

everything out before she found out another way. But he didn't want to h

on his arm. "Ethan, I can tell something's bothering you.

and he pulled her into an embrace. "

into him. "I'll take that a

ble. The name Ava Parker flashed across the screen. Cla

d grabbed the phone, silencing it. "She's..

arms crossing. "And she'

Ava and I dated years ago. She's been out of my life f

ed, her voice ti

I promise, Clara, whatever this is, it's

f doubt had been planted. "Okay," she sai

ng the fabric of the elegant emerald gown Ethan had insisted on getting her. She felt out of plac

is breath hitched. "Y

offered arm. "You don't

ly pausing as heads turned to take them in. Ethan kept Clara close, his hand

y steering conversations to keep her at ease. But as the night wore on, the whisp

ed, but she refus

rance. She was every bit the vision Clara wasn't tall, poised, and commanding the

e approached him. "Ethan Bla

ightening on his glass. "Av

e dripping with feigned innocence. "Though I couldn't

ing, it's not going to work," E

gleaming. "Lovely girl. I wonder

urned, her expression guarded as she

g at the tension in Clara's vo

extending a hand. "It's nice to meet y

hand, her gaze flicking between t

n her eyes. "Oh, I'm sure Ethan will fill

reached for Clara's hand, b

voice trembling. "I thought we w

ed away, Ethan realized he had to f

it took, he was going to show Clara that their love was worth fightin

e woman-Ava, Ethan's so-called "old friend"-had stirred something unsettling within her. Clara had been wi

ter. The city stretched before her, its lights glittering like stars

epped onto the balcony, his expression both apo

is world of yours is full of surprises I'm not prepared for? Or that you

didn't tell you about Ava because she doesn't matter to me anymore. What we had-it was

you, Ethan. But trust isn't just about believing your word

right. I should've told you. I should've prepared you. B

face. For all his wealth and power, Ethan stood before

a fraction. "I don't care about your past, Ethan.

re not just in my future-you are my future, Clara. I

ey stood in silence for a moment, the weight of their emotions grou

th me,"

tilting her h

onfidence returni

ounds grew distant as they followed a trail lined with softly glowing lanterns.

elp," he admitted. "Bu

: a blanket spread beneath an ancient oak tree, surrounded by fairy lights. A bot

trailed off as she looked

st time we really talked. The café, your sketchpad, the way you laughed at my coffee spill. This is where

rt swelling. "You always know how

e. His thumb brushed her cheek, and he leaned in, his lips

his hand trailing to the small of her back as if anchoring her to him. Clara's fing

hed breathlessly, her forehead resting aga

had a lot of pra

a sketched the scene around them, and Ethan tried his hand at drawing her, resulting in a hila

he teased, wiping aw

g as he pulled her close. "And I don't care if I can

moment, she realized that no matter what challenges came their