Chapter 15 - The Unbroken Circle
Midnight had come and gone, and the gala finally drew to a quiet close. The last of the catering staff packed up their equipment, and the luxury sedans carrying politicians and billionaires rolled down the winding gravel driveway, their tail lights fading into the dark woods of Briar Glen.
Inside the grand library, the fire crackled warmly in the massive stone hearth.
Claire kicked off her high heels, letting her feet sink into the thick Persian rug, and walked over to the French doors that opened out onto the stone patio. She pulled open the glass, stepping out into the cool midnight air.
The Hudson Valley was bathed in silver moonlight. The ancient oaks swayed gently in the breeze, and the private lake below shimmered like a sheet of hammered glass.
Footsteps approached softly from behind, and a familiar cashmere jacket draped gently over her shoulders. Ethan wrapped his arms around her from behind, resting his chin gently against her hair as they looked out together over the quiet expanse of the estate.
“Penny for your thoughts?” Ethan whispered against her ear.
Claire leaned back against his chest, closing her eyes and breathing in the sweet scent of the night air.
“I was just thinking about the wall,” Claire said softly.
“Which one?”
“The one you broke down.” Claire turned around in his arms, wrapping her hands around his neck and looking up into his eyes with a radiant smile. “I’m glad you heard the tapping, Ethan.”
May you like
Ethan smiled, his hands resting securely on her waist, drawing her closer. “So am I, Claire. So am I.”
They stood together on the stone patio, wrapped in the quiet warmth of a night that belonged entirely to them—surrounded by light, free from shadows, and ready for every tomorrow the world had to offer.
