Chapter 53

Claire's POV The next morning, I woke up wrapped in Theo's warm embrace, sunlight streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows of his bedroom. Despite the tension from our conversation the night before, there was something peaceful about this moment—the way his arm tightened around me protectively, the steady rhythm of his breathing, the familiar scent of sandalwood and mint that had become so comforting. "Good morning, beautiful," he murmured against my hair, his voice still rough with sleep. I turned in his arms to face him, still a little mad about last night and studying the relaxed expression on his handsome face. In the soft morning light, he looked younger somehow, less burdened by the responsibilities that usually weighed on his shoulders. "Good morning," I replied softly, allowing myself to enjoy this tender moment despite the complications between us. We lay there in comfortable silence for a while, neither of us eager to break the spell of intimacy. Theo's fingers traced l