filled with laughter and

. Delicious stew, freshly cooked food, wafted the savory smell around her, and she s

for the lovely meal. "zillions of thanks, Mrs. Wills. T

er hand. "Rubbish, dear. You are like part o

woman, Mrs Wills had come home jus

anced out the window at the sun dipping low in the sky. "It's getting la

ise. "Oh, that's all right. I'

into a smile. "I insist. Besides, I wanted to che

ow could she forget how much he'd done for them over the years? Grateful, and

se. Evening quiet stretched around them, peaceful yet full of unsaid thoughts. Birds c

"Ariana, have you ever thought about wha

to reply. She knew so little about what the future held, especially with the curse hovering over her family. "I.

ompassion. "I know. Life is. whimsical. But you are stro

armth somewhere in her. She was mostly unaware of how his gaze stays i

one

n secret, only to see her with another man-a man who seemed far too close to her. His jaw tightened as Liam took in the way Ben looked at Ariana. Th

er small house, Ariana call

having attended the flowers there. Her eyes lit up the moment she s

, meaningless greetings, and the next thing she knew, her grandma had already invited him inside, chatting and laughing with eac

er asked, lowering herself

warm eyes darting between Ariana and her gr

"A good man, that's what you are, Ben. Always

knew that her grandma thought a lot of Ben, and she was glad he was part of their l

Ben gnawed at him-a feeling he

the door as they kept saying thank you to him. He glanced over hi

d down the street. "What a nice young man, that Ben. So mannered

lling. "Grandma! I don't th

mischievous smile hitched for a second and said

ered hot and, after getting out, took her time drying her hair, listening to the quiet peacefulness of the hou

of the bathroom, humming s

hadows, intently watching her. Ariana's breath caught in her

grandma's voice sounded, follow

ng to be concerned about." Her voice had a flat tone, willing it not to quake. Soon enough, the rhy

re that lay on her bed, eyes wide wit

ly above a whisper. "What are you doi

y entertained by her reaction. "Your window. Yo

r to him, her voice low. "You can't just sneak

eflected that same old intensity. "I'm sorry," he whis

tare, and the turmoil of emotions boiling inside her. Her heart went into an erratic but accelerated rhythm,

e finally asked, her voice b

hen his voice came, in low, unyielding tones. "Becaus

en them. She had no idea what to say, still somewhat in shock at his sudden appearance.

ver leaving hers, the only sound between th

e tried to put herself together, but only one question seemed t