---- Chapter 19 19 After the little office party, | stepped out onto our tiny balcony for some air. The Austin night was warm, scented with jasmine from a nearby garden. | leaned against the railing, looking at the city lights. Free. Happy. Words | hadn't associated with myself for a very long time. Liam followed me out. He stood beside me, not speaking for a few moments. Just sharing the quiet. "It's pretty amazing, isn't it?" | said, finally. "The Phoenix Project. Sometimes | still can't believe we got it." "| can," he said, his voice soft. "| saw your designs, Ava. Your passion. There was never any doubt in my mind." He turned to look at me. His gaze was direct, intense. "You're an incredible architect, Ava. And an incredible person." | felt that blush creep up my neck again. "Thank you, Liam. That means a lot. Especially coming from you.' He smiled. "| remember when | first saw the job posting for New Leaf. | almost didn't apply. A new firm, just starting out... it felt like a risk." ---- "But you did," | said. "But | did," he echoed. "Something about the name. 'New Leaf. And then | met you and Sarah. | saw your vision. | knew this was where | needed to be." He paused, then said, so quietly | almost didn't hear it, "| think I've been falling in love with you since that first day, Ava." My breath caught. He rushed on, "| know you've been through a lot. | know you're not ready. | just... | wanted you to know. I'm here. And | can wait." His honesty, his patience, his quiet devotion. It was everything Ethan's love - if you could even call it that - had never been. | looked at him, really looked at him His kind eyes. His gentle smile. The strength in his hands that could create such beauty. A different kind of warmth spread through me now. Tender. Hopeful. He saw the shift in my eyes. He took a hesitant step closer. He was so different from Ethan. Grounded. Sincere. Supportive. He respected my talent. He cherished my spirit. He didn't try to change me, or diminish me. He celebrated me. He reached out, gently tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear. His touch was light, respectful. But it sent a shiver down my spine. ---- The night air grew a little cooler. "You should go inside," he said. "You're shivering." He guided me back into the office, his hand lightly on my arm. | was a little lightheaded from the champagne, from the emotion of the day. He led me to the old sofa in the corner, where | often napped during late nights. | sank onto it, suddenly exhausted. He knelt beside me, his expression full of a tenderness that made my heart ache in a good way. He leaned in, and for a moment, | thought he was going to kiss me. My heart fluttered. Instead, he pressed a soft, gentle kiss to my forehead. "Rest, Ava," he whispered. | was half-asleep, but | reached out, my fingers brushing his cheek. "Liam," | murmured, my voice thick with sleep and emotion. "Thank you. For everything." | looked into his eyes. "Wait for me?" A slow smile spread across his face. "Always," he said. | fell asleep, a genuine, peaceful smile on my own lips. For the first time in what felt like a lifetime, my future felt bright. Full of promise. Full of Liam. | woke early the next morning, stiff from sleeping on the sofa. ---- The office was quiet. Sunlight streamed through the windows. The smell of coffee. Good coffee. Liam was in our tiny kitchenette, humming softly as he made breakfast. Scrambled eggs. Toast. My favorite kind of jam - apricot - which I'd mentioned once, weeks ago. He remembered. Of course, he remembered. He looked up, saw me, and smiled. That warm, genuine smile that always made my heart do a little flip. "Morning, sleepyhead. Coffee's ready. Breakfast in five." It felt... domestic. Comfortable. Right. | watched him as he moved around the kitchenette, efficient, graceful. He was a good man. A kind man. A man who paid attention to the small things. Aman who saw me. Truly saw me. The local news was playing softly on a small TV in the corner. A picture of Ethan flashed on the screen. Then one of me. "disgraced New York lawyer Ethan Cole, whose ex-wife, architect Ava Miller, is now making waves in Austin with her innovative designs..." Liam glanced at the screen, then at me, a question in his eyes. | just shrugged. "Old news. Doesn't matter anymore." And it didn't. Ethan Cole was a ghost from a past life. A life | had thankfully, ---- finally, left behind.