Harriet’s POV
As I sank onto the bed beside Gino, the tension in the air began to dissolve, replaced by a fragile, yet comforting peace. The evening light filtered through my curtains, casting a soft glow around us. I could feel his presence like a steady heartbeat, grounding me as I grappled with the swirl of thoughts and emotions that had taken residence in my mind.
“Do you—” I started, hesitating. “Do you really mean what you said? About not viewing me as just a contract?”
His answer came swift and sure, “More than anything. You’re not just a piece of paper to me, Harriet. You’re a person—a wonderful, vibrant person. And I want to know all of you, not just the parts that fit neatly into a box.”
There was something in his tone that melted the remaining doubt in my heart. He didn’t
