Chapter 10 - The Ocean We OwnSix months later.
The evening sun cast a warm golden light across the Pacific Ocean. The breeze was soft, carrying the sweet scent of salt and wild grass.
I stood on the deck of a small wooden cottage right on the edge of the beach—my new design studio, fully funded by local conservation projects that actually mattered.
Footsteps sounded on the wooden planks behind me. Olivia walked out, wearing a soft sweater, holding two steaming mugs of coffee.
She handed one to me, leaning her shoulder against mine as we looked out at the rolling waves.
"No clients emailing?" she teased gently.
"None," I smiled, setting the mug down and pulling her close. "Just the view."
May you like
She looked up at me, her eyes filled with warmth, peace, and love. "Thank you for not walking away that night on the sand."
"Best mistake I ever made," I whispered, pulling her into a kiss as the sun dipped beneath the horizon, painting the open ocean in shades of gold and red—a shore that belonged to everyone, and a life we had built together.
