Chapter 1063

The morning air had a strange sweetness to it, as if the forest itself had exhaled something softer than usual. Dew clung to the grass like tiny jewels, and birdsong wove through the trees in lazy waves. In the center of it all, Rose moved like she belonged to the light. She walked barefoot through the clearing, the hem of her long, sheer gown brushing the earth, the fabric hugging her hips with every slow, swaying step. Her hair shimmered like polished ink in the sun, and when she passed by, the scent of wildflowers clung to the air behind her.

The others noticed it too.

Susan was the first to laugh, brushing her hands on her thighs as Rose passed. "You're glowing today," she said with a playful grin.

"Am I?" Rose asked, turning just enough to give Susan a glance from over her shoulder. It wasn't just a look, it lingered, inviting, deliberate. Susan's breath caught, her smile curving into something coy.