The streets of Paris had quieted, the once-bustling city now a canvas of soft golden lights and whispered conversations. The Seine shimmered under the glow of the streetlamps, casting gentle ripples of silver and gold over the dark water.
Ava exhaled, her breath visible in the crisp night air as she and Ryan strolled along the riverbank. The weight of the day—the competition, the constant battle against Julian's algorithms, Ethan's sabotage—was still there, but it felt distant now, swallowed up by the peace of the moment.
For the first time in what felt like forever, it was just them.
No Mei dragging them into mischief. No matchmaking disasters to solve. No sabotage or looming deadlines.
Just the quiet hum of the city. Just the rhythmic sound of their footsteps against the cobblestone path. Just him.