No matter what happens, you have to keep yourposure and smile, never letting your emotions show on your face.


    At first, it was exhausting-like walking around with a heavy mask I couldn''t take


    off.


    But over time, I got used to it.


    Only then did I realize: if you wear a mask long enough, it starts to stick. Eventually, you can''t take it off at all.


    Maybe it was Nora''s careful guidance, but Ste always carried herself with an easy grace. Even if she cut someone down with a sharp remark, she never lost her poise or descended into crudeness.


    Joshua echoed her words softly, as if tasting them, “If you wear a mask long enough, you can''t take it off, huh?"


    A gentle breeze drifted by, carrying a subtle fragrance-nothing overpowering, just


    a breath of sweetness that instantly soothed the soul. Wildflowers of every color swayed in the wind, not showy or cultivated, just quietly beautiful and unexpectedly uplifting.


    Scattered across the meadow, the blossoms looked more magical than any manicured garden. Their wild, scattered beauty left a deeper impression than any perfect bouquet.


    "This ce is wonderful," Ste said, gazing up at the wless blue sky. Her eyes shimmered with a lightness that hadn''t been there before. "Out here, away from the chaos of the city, it feels like you can finally breathe."


    Joshua nced at her, realizing how much lighter her mood seemed.


    Afternoon sunlight bathed them both in a warm, golden glow. Surrounded by the gentle scents of wildflowers, Ste drifted off to sleep without even noticing.


    Ever since her hand had been injured, sleep had be a stranger. She''d tried everything—nothing worked. Restless nights were oldpanions, especially since Rachel''s return. Every evening brought new worries, and the taste of insomnia was all too familiar.


    When she finally woke, sunlight still spilled across her limbs. She opened her eyes slowly, reluctant to move. In this peaceful, secluded field, her mind finally found a sliver of calm. Lying there, she wished she could just stay, unmoving, forever-free from the heavy thoughts and tangled anxieties that haunted her.


    She rolled her head to the side and saw Joshua still sitting beside her. He was hunched over, eyes fixed something in his hands, fingers moving quickly and deftly. There elegance to his movements a quiet focus she rarely saw in him.  s


    was a


    Ste blinked. "What are you doing?"<fnd2fe> For more chapters visit F?ndNovel</fnd2fe>


    He didn''t even look up at her voice. Instead, he just finished what he was working


    on, his hands a blur of movement. "Making a flower crown."


    When he was done, Joshua held it out to her. "Here. For you."


    Without thinking, Ste took it from him. "What made you think to make a flower crown?"


    Joshua answered simply, "You seemed to like the flowers here. And you were asleep, so I figured I''d keep myself busy."


    For a moment, Ste couldn''t help but see him in a new light. "You know how to do this?"


    He grinned. "Not really. I just looked up a tutorial online and gave it a shot."


    She examined the crown in her


    hands. It was clear he hadn''t just thrown it together-the colors, the shapes, the the way the wildflowe


    were woyer together showed a surprising level of care.  s


    With her background in floral design, Ste could tell at a nce that he''d


    put genuine fought inte it. Joshuar


    really was one of those people who picked up any new skill in no time.  s


    She ced the crown on her head and turned to him. "Well? How does it look?”


    Pale, delicate blooms circled her hair, their soft colors catching the sunlight. Her smile reflected in Joshua''s eyes, and for a second he seemed caught off guard.


    But Ste didn''t notice-she was already gazing back out over the sea of wildflowers.


    "So why did you bring me here?" she asked quietly.