Chapter 12

Atlas took the tablet from his assistant, his fingers tightening around the edges as the screen flickered to life.

Even through the digital display, my presence struck him like a tidal wave.

His pulse pounded as he scrolled through the images I had taken–breathtaking landscapes, golden sunrises, endless oceans stretching far beyond the horizon.

Every shot was a masterpiece. Not just in composition, not just in color, but in something deeper.

Each frame held freedom.

Atlas stared at a particular photo–one of a cliff’s edge, the world vast and infinite beyond it.

For a long moment, he didn’t speak.

He didn’t know if he was remembering the promise he once made–to take me around the world. Or if he was

realizing just how far I had already gone without him.

His throat tightened. “Book me the next flight to A–Country,” he ordered, his voice clipped, urgent. “And keep tracking her location. I want updates every hour.”

Atlas arrived at the hotel where I was. He stood outside the door, his hand raised, fingers curled into a hesitant fist.

He couldn’t knock. His entire body was rigid, every breath he took uneven.

didn’t knock. He sank onto the floor outside the door, resting his back against the

the long hours of silence, his thoughts

the sound of

come to clean the

casually, unlocking the door. “Left early this morning. Didn’t

felt as though someone had dumped ice water over

swaying slightly, his

led him to

through the streets, his heart

If he was just a second too late–if

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of Love, Seven Minutes

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Chapter 12

see me again.

Then–his footsteps faltered.

sunlight dancing off the lens of

pigeons.

bird flapped too close, my face tilting toward the sky.

breathe. Happier than he had

birds, my hair catching in the breeze, my smile so bright it was almost painful to look

of smile I had never worn when I was with him.

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