Chapter 24 - Evening on the Stone Estate
The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the Providence sky in shades of deep violet, amber, and burnt orange.
The sprawling stone estate was peaceful. The iron gates remained wide open, welcoming local families who strolled along the garden paths and visited the public library wing.
On the back patio, Corbin and Lianna sat side by side in two wooden rocking chairs, watching the stars begin to flicker through the twilight sky. The air was cool and crisp, carrying the faint, earthy scent of autumn leaves and pine.
"Do you ever think about where we'd be if I hadn't stayed in the hallway that morning?" Corbin asked quietly, breaking the comfortable silence.
Lianna turned her head, looking at him with a soft, knowing smile. "You would still be sitting in your office, surrounded by numbers, believing that money could solve everything."
"And you?"
"I would still be working hard, holding my breath every time the grocery bill went up, wondering if anyone in the world even noticed we existed," Lianna murmured, reaching out to rest her hand over his calloused fingers. "Instead, we found each other. And we built something real."
Corbin squeezed her hand tightly, feeling the unshakeable warmth of her presence. "Twenty-eight dollars," he said with a soft chuckle. "The best investment in human history."
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"Don't let Austin hear you say that," Lianna laughed softly. "He thinks his new app is the greatest financial breakthrough of the century."
"He might not be wrong," Corbin smiled, looking out toward the bright horizon where the estate lights shone warmly against the gathering night.
