Chapter 18

That night, Juliette called Eloise to a cafe. However, when Eloise arrived, it wasn't Juliette waiting. It was Gabriel. The place was empty, just the two of them surrounded by her favorite champagne roses. He sat at the center, fingers dancing over the piano keys, the melody blending with the twinkling stars overhead, turning the night into something magical. As the song faded, he reached out his hand. Eloise, almost spellbound, placed hers in his, letting him guide her to the keys. They played together, and a memory flickered—little Gabriel teaching her piano as kids. He'd been her first teacher. If the West family hadn't sent him abroad so young… If her parents hadn't moved her to Northvale to live with a nanny… Maybe everything would've turned out differently. The music stopped, but Gabriel held her hand tight. "I know what's eating at you. I know what you're afraid of." His voice was steady and raw, laying his heart bare for the first time. Overwhelmed, Eloise tried to