Chapter 16 59 % I never thought Id say this but I was truly , utterly happy . The moment we landed in Europe , it felt like a dream . A soft breeze kissed my face , the sky a pastel hue of lilac and blush , and right beside me Rozen . His hand never left mine as we stepped off the plane , and the way he looked at me ? Like I was his world . And maybe , in that moment , he was mine . Youre quiet , Rozen said , sliding his sunglasses down and flashing me that half smirk he always wore when he was teasing me . I glanced at him , lips twitching . Just taking it in . Europe … honeymoon … my emotionally constipated husband showing actual emotion . He chuckled . Ill let that slide since youre pretty . He leaned in , brushing his lips against my temple . And because Im madly in love with you . That still made my heart stumble . We toured some cities for a couple of days hidden corners of Paris , a quiet gondola ride in Venice , and a breathtaking sunrise at the Swiss Alps . He booked the most beautiful penthouses and suites , but none of those places could compare to what came next . He had saved the best for last . Rozen owned an island . A whole damn island . When we arrived by private yacht , I stood frozen on the dock . The crystal clear turquoise waters lapped against the wooden planks , palm trees swayed lazily with the breeze , and a villa stood nestled between white sand and a backdrop of lush greenery . Its ours for the week , Rozen whispered against my ear . No interruptions . No people . And just like that , the world faded away . We spent our first afternoon walking barefoot on the sand , our fingers intertwined , our laughter lost in the wind . At night , we dined under the stars . Rozen had prepared everything -from the lights strung around palm trees to the candlelit dinner table near the shore . He pulled the chair out for me , poured wine into my glass , and looked at me like I held the stars in my palms . You always knew how to surprise me , I murmured , fingers trailing over the rim of my glass . Ill spend the rest of my life doing just that , he said . If youll let me . His words genuine , soft , raw hit deeper than anything ever had . There was no trace of the cold man I once married out of convenience . This was Rozen stripped bare . No pretense . Just him . That night , in the villa , our love unfolded like poetry . Chapter 16 19:28 Fri , 18 Apr 01 < 3 59 % The moonlight poured through the sheer curtains as his hands found my skin . He undressed me slowly , reverently , as if each inch of me was something sacred . His lips traced every line , every curve , worshipping and branding me as his . I want you , he whispered , breathless , lips against my collarbone . Every part of you . Your laughter . Your pain . Your strength . I want to see you really see you every day for the rest of my life . And he did . He saw the version of me no one else did the vulnerable , scared , soft woman who had been hurt but still dared to love again . And when we made love , it wasnt just passion . It was surrender . A promise without words . I fell asleep in his arms , lulled by the sound of his heartbeat and the ocean beyond . Every day on that island was a new kind of beautiful . Mornings were filled with lazy kisses in bed , Rozen trying to convince me to skip breakfast . Afternoons were spent swimming in the ocean , racing along the shore , and laughing so hard I forgot what it felt like to be broken . We had bonfires at night , danced barefoot on the sand , fed each other chocolate covered strawberries , and played stupid card games where the loser had to do a dare . He lost on purpose . I knew it . Your dare is to sing , I said one night , trying not to laugh . Rozen groaned . You want me to humiliate myself ? I grinned . Absolutely . And so he sang horribly off key but the way he looked at me the whole time , like I was the only thing that mattered , made my heart swell . One morning , I woke up tangled in sheets , sunlight peeking through the windows , and Rozen already making breakfast shirtless . You keep doing this , and I might never go back to work , I teased , watching him flip pancakes . He raised a brow . Thats the plan . I giggled , walking over and wrapping my arms around his waist . He leaned into me , placing a soft kiss on my head . Youre glowing , he whispered . Im just happy . Good , he said . Because Ive never seen you this free before . I love it . I love you . I looked up at him . I love you too . And that was it . We didnt need anything else . No grand gestures . Just honesty . As the week came to an end , we sat by the shore , watching the sky bleed into gold and crimson . Chapter 16 19:28 Fri , 18 Apr 59 % Do we really have to leave tomorrow ? I asked , head resting on his shoulder . Well come back , Rozen promised . As many times as you want . I turned to him . You really mean that , huh ? I meant every word Ive ever said to you , Jasmine . He looked at me then , eyes full of devotion . Youre not just the woman I married . Youre the woman Ill spend the rest of my life loving . And I believed him . Because for once , there was no more pretending . No more running . The woman who once promised not to love and the man who never believed he could . Now hopelessly , completely , irreversibly in love . Audrey's biggest regret? A one-night stand with Floyd, her secret love for eight years. Despite his arranged marriage and his family's troubles, he kept rescuing her. She thought she was just a fling,...