RONAN'S POV;
I smiled to myself, knowing that Liora was still in my arms, peacefully asleep. In the early hours of the morning, I had woken up intermittently, just to watch her. Her delicate breathing, the way her hair framed her face, and the softness of her features made her look irresistibly cute. Somehow, against all odds, I'd fallen for her—head over heels, like I’d never fallen before.
Then, just as the sun began its tentative ascent over the horizon, my phone rang, its shrill tone jarring me out of my reverie. I knew instantly it had to be Mark, probably panicking over my late arrival at the office. But when I picked up the phone, the name flashing on the screen sent a cold jolt down my spine: Nikolai.
I stared at the name, suddenly wide awake, and hit the side button to mute the ringer. My gaze flickered to Liora, still sleeping beside me, her breathing steady and innocent. I couldn't bear to wake her; she looked so content, so at peace, and I didn’t want to disturb that.