The ocean breeze swept through the grand stone archway of their coastal estate, rustling the hem of Grace’s silk robe as she leaned lazily against the cool stone frame. Behind her, the sprawling mansion loomed—a fortress of glass and steel perched on the cliffs like it was daring the ocean to rise. Waves crashed below, their rhythm steady and relentless, much like the man she was waiting for.

She heard the distant hum of tires on gravel and glanced down the winding driveway. Right on cue, a black car with tinted windows glided through the towering wrought-iron gates, coming to a smooth, calculated stop in front of the entrance. Efficient. Predictable.

She pushed off the stone frame with an effortless grace, the silk of her robe shifting like liquid over her skin as she took a slow step toward him, her eyes gleaming with something halfway between amusement and frustration, a grin on her face

“Our son will start thinking you’re some sort of superhero if you keep avoiding lunch with my parents.”