Chapter 38

Only Tony and I were familiar with this location, so I forced a swallow and attempted to calm my racing heart. Even the mother of the orphanage is unaware of it. To go to the location I frequently visited with Tony, the two of us had to ascend the steps.

He gently warned me, "Be careful. These stairs are quite slippery."

Hans extended his hand to assist me up the stairs once he had reached the roof. I gripped his hand firmly to prevent myself from falling down the slick stairs. He gave me a firm handhold as I climbed to the roof.

"Thank you, Hans," I said with a quick smile.

When Hans unexpectedly learned about the location I frequently frequented with Tony, I was still taken aback and a little curious. We were standing together on a tiny balcony with several candles arranged on a round table in the center. We could see the stars quite clearly that night, thanks to the bright sky, which made for a wonderfully romantic ambiance.

"What do you prefer more, the st