Chapter 15 - Dawn Over the CourtyardOne year to the day after Ethan fell into the swimming pool, the sun rose over Vale House, painting the courtyard in brilliant shades of gold and amber. Maggie stood on the pale stone deck, leaning against the polished glass railing, watching the turquoise water ripple gently in the morning breeze.
Ethan rolled out through the sliding glass doors, moving with a fluid, independent strength that would have seemed impossible twelve months prior. He pulled his chair to a stop beside her, handing her a steaming cup of coffee.
"Penny for your thoughts, Director Collins?" Ethan teased gently, a warm, genuine smile breaking across his face.
May you like
Maggie took the mug, looking out over the sprawling estate that was now safe, secure, and filled with genuine life. "I was just thinking about the day I jumped into that pool," she smiled, looking up at him. "Best twelve-dollar-an-hour decision I ever made."
Ethan laughed—a rich, booming sound that echoed across the courtyard, entirely free of the bitterness that once defined him. He reached out, covering her hand with his own. "You didn't just save a drowning man, Maggie. You gave me back my life." And as the morning sun warmed the estate, they stood together under the open sky, ready to face whatever tomorrow brought, side by side.
