Chapter 169.

By the time they left the hotel room, Emilia had changed into a light, flowing yellow dress with thin straps and comfortable white sandals.

Her hair had dried into soft curls around her shoulders. She wore the delicate compass bracelet Adrian had given her, and nothing else.

She didn’t need anything else.

Adrian had changed too.

He wore a dark shirt, light trousers, and sunglasses. His hand found hers the moment they stepped outside.

The elevator ride was quiet.

Emilia leaned lightly against his shoulder all through the ride. The elevator doors opened after a while, and they stepped into the private lobby.

Outside, a black car waited.

A driver opened the door.

Adrian let Emilia enter first, then followed. The moment the car pulled away, Rio unfolded around them.

Emilia pressed closer to the window.

She had seen photographs, videos, and movies. However, seeing it in person was different.

The city was alive.

Bright buildings stood against the blue sky. People moved along the sidewalks, palm trees swayed in the breeze.

And beyond everything, was the ocean.

Emilia’s mouth parted. "Oh."

Adrian watched her rather than the view. He brought out his phone, and took a road trip video for her.

The road curved, and then the shoreline appeared.

Copacabana.

The famous beach stretched beside them, broad and bright beneath the morning sun. The Portuguese mosaic promenade ran along the shore, and the Atlantic glittered beyond it.

Emilia leaned closer to the glass. "It’s beautiful."

Adrian smiled. He ended the video.

The car slowed.

"Can we walk?"

"Of course." He nodded to the driver.

The car stopped.

Adrian got out first and offered her his hand.

Emilia stepped onto the pavement. The warmth immediately touched her skin. A breeze carried the scent of saltwater.

She looked toward the ocean.

For a moment, she forgot everything else.

The arguments, the scholarship, Noah, the investigation, and the fear.

The months of not knowing whether she and Adrian would ever have a normal moment together.

Here, there was only the sea.

The sun.

Brazil.

And his hand in hers.

Adrian came beside her. "You okay?"

Emilia nodded. "I’m more than okay."

He smiled.

She turned toward him.

"Thank you for bringing me."

"Anywhere."

She smiled. "Anywhere?"

"Anywhere."

"Then tomorrow we’re going to Paris."

"Fine."

"The day after, Tokyo."

"Fine."

"Then—"

He cut her off with a gentle smile. "You’re abusing the privilege."

She laughed. "Come in." She ran backwards towards the ocean with a light laugh. "Take a video of me for Kylie. And my mum."

She turned and continued toward the water. "Come into the water, Adrian."

Adrian watched her.

For several seconds, he simply stood there.

The woman he loved was running toward the ocean in a yellow dress, sunlight catching in her hair, with her laughter carried away by the breeze.

His phone was still in his hand.

He raised it, and started recording.

"Emilia."

She turned. "Yes?"

"Don’t go too far."

She grinned. "I’m not."

"That’s what people say before they go too far." He added.

"You’re worrying too much."

"I’m not worrying."

She splashed a little water toward him.

He looked down at the droplets that had landed against his trousers. Then back at her. "Did you just throw water at me?"

Emilia’s smile widened. "No."

"Emilia."

"I don’t know what you’re talking about."

He started walking toward her.

Her eyes widened. "No."

He kept walking.

"Adrian."

"Come here."

She laughed and backed away. "Stay there."

He kept walking.

"Don’t you dare."

He reached her. Before she could escape, one arm slipped around her waist.

Emilia shrieked. "Adrian!"

He lifted her just enough to make her feet leave the sand.

She laughed. "Put me down!"

"You wanted me in the water."

"Not like this!"

He lowered her immediately with a refreshed smile.

She grabbed his shoulders, still laughing. She looked down at her dress. Only the very bottom was damp.

She stared at him. "You did that."

"You ran into the ocean."

She laughed again.

Adrian looked at her. Her cheeks were flushed. Her hair was moving in the wind, and the sunlight made her skin glow.

She looked happy. Genuinely happy. And something inside his chest went quiet.

He raised his phone.

"Smile, baby."

She immediately gave a pose with her smile intact. He took a picture, smiling.

"Another."

He took another. Then another.

"Let me see."

She reached for the phone.

He handed it over.

Emilia looked through the photographs. The first was of her standing alone near the water. The second had her laughing.

The third caught her looking back at him.

She paused. "Adrian."

"Hm?"

"That’s beautiful."

"It’s you."

He smiled. She returned to the photographs.

Her face warmed, and she lowered the phone. "This is cheating. You should have taken them with my phone, and not yours."

He shook his head. "You might not know the worth of these pictures."

Emilia’s jaw dropped. "Damn you!!"

Adrian winked at her.

Then a voice came from nearby.

"You two look very good together."

Emilia turned.

An older woman stood a few feet away. She looked to be in her late sixties, perhaps early seventies.

She wore a loose white blouse, comfortable trousers, and a wide-brimmed straw hat. A woven beach bag rested against her hip.

Her silver hair was gathered loosely at the back of her head.

She had the kind of warm, weathered smile that made her seem familiar despite the fact that Emilia had never seen her before.

Emilia blinked. "Sorry?"

The woman smiled. "I said you look very good together."

She glanced between them. "You have the kind of faces people take photographs of without realizing they’ve been staring for too long."

Emilia’s cheeks turned pink.

Adrian’s mouth twitched.

The woman laughed.

"See?" She pointed at Emilia. "She is embarrassed." Then she pointed at Adrian. "And he is pretending he isn’t pleased."

Emilia burst out laughing.

The older woman waved a hand invitingly.

"I’ve been married for forty-three years. I know what a man looks like when he is pretending not to be pleased."

Emilia looked at Adrian. He raised an eyebrow.

"Forty-three?" Emilia whispered. Obviously stunned.

The woman smiled proudly. "Forty-three." She glanced at Emilia. "And don’t worry. I wasn’t always this wise."

Emilia smiled.

The woman looked at the phone in Emilia’s hand. "Are you taking pictures for your family?"