Chapter 148: Escaping the Past

The sun dipped low over the horizon, casting a golden hue across the tranquil waters. The beach stretched out before Nixus and Malia, the soft sound of waves lapping against the shore mixing with the distant call of seagulls. It was the kind of peaceful scene they'd dreamed about in the months following Evelyn's downfall. A place where time seemed to slow down, where the weight of the world could be left behind for just a little while.

Nixus had been the one to suggest the vacation—something more than just a brief getaway, but a real escape. After everything they'd been through, the battles, the betrayals, the constant pressure, it was hard to remember a time when they weren't fighting, strategizing, or rebuilding. He had insisted they both needed this—somewhere far from the noise and chaos of their everyday lives.