Chapter 61

Cassandra’s days were a whirlwind of meetings, deadlines, and creative brainstorming, yet she always found a way to carve out precious moments with the man she loved. Their secret lay in small, steadfast rituals: every morning, Thomas made sure they shared a quiet breakfast before the world stirred; each evening, no matter how late her projects ran, Cassandra insisted they dine side by side, laying aside their phones to talk until the moon rose. It was the only way they could nurture their bond amid the relentless pace of their careers.

Thomas himself had barely a spare second. By dawn he pored over blueprints for his restaurant’s ambitious expansion, and by dusk he paced the construction site for the new level he dreamed of adding. Cassandra watched him with fond pride, especially whenever he described this particular project—a floor devoted entirely to desserts, a confectionery sanctuary born from his genius as a Pastry Chef. She could still recall the day she teased him gen