Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

Aubree wasted no time in getting to where Matthew was. Dressed in sporty attire and standing tall at 6'1", he was a head-turner on any street.

Once they boarded the plane, Aubree settled in for a much-needed nap.

After landing, Matthew whisked her away to a private villa. It was a stunning French-style retreat, complete with a butler and staff, where Aubree didn't have to lift a finger; Matthew had everything perfectly sorted.

By the next morning, a rugged ride was ready to take them across the prairie. It looked like a massive truck, with a rear fortified by solid steel bars. A ladder was needed to climb aboard.

Matthew went up first, with Aubree following closely. At the back, a solid door led them to the driver's cab.

"Don't worry about any animals breaking in, Aubree. These steel bars are top-notch, and the truck's equipped with the latest autopilot and GPS systems. If anything goes wrong, a helicopter will be on its way to rescue us," Matthew reassured her. The back offered about sixty-four square feet of space, shielded only by the bars. It was the perfect spot to gaze at the endless blue sky and the sprawling landscape.

Inside, the cabin was stocked with enough provisions to last half a month.

"Come on, Aubree, it's time to hit the road," Matthew said, his excitement contagious.

Aubree's heart raced at his words. It had been ages since she felt this kind of thrill. Her life had been stagnant, never once considering adventures into the unknown. But if given the chance again, she'd still choose to embark on this journey with Matthew. They drove all day, eventually entering the vast expanse of the American prairie. The endless green stretched out to kiss the sky at the horizon.

"Keep the windows closed here, Aubree. It's safer that way. If you want to take in the view, head to the back," Matthew suggested.

excitement, Aubree swiftly made her way through the

rushed to meet

world's largest and best-preserved prairie. Crossing it, they would come across countless

arms wide open, reveling in the view that was even more breathtaking

ever convey; it had to be felt

their journey,

and followed it for miles, making Aubree's heart leap with excitement, her cheeks flushed with the

switched the truck to autopilot and joined her in

when she spotted some

Look at them!" she

solo, Matthew was a firm believer in the saying that traveling a thousand miles is more enlightening than reading a thousand books,

see them," he replied

of animals grew, and Aubree was left speechless, forgetting even

her a bottle of

just in time to

hearing Matthew murmur, "Survival of the

halt, they cooked inside the well-equipped

awkward part was the single bed and