(Michelle Lui's POV)
The breeze on the hilltop carried a faint chill, brushing over my cheeks as I stepped closer to the edge of the overlook.
The lake below shimmered — the morning sun turning it into a sheet of diamonds.
Trees surrounded us in a soft curve, rustling gently, framing the scene like a painting.
Quiet.
Private.
Beautiful.
Steven walked beside me, not touching, but… present.
Always present.
"This is…" I exhaled slowly, "…incredible."
He didn't answer at first.
He was watching me.
Not in the dramatic swoony-movie way.
But quietly.
Like he was memorizing the moment — how my hair moved in the wind, how my eyes traced the water, how I breathed in the view.
Then he finally said, "I'm glad."
There was a softness in his voice I had never heard before.
Warm, unguarded, almost tender.
I looked at him.
He didn't look away this time.
--
The Conversation Begins
We moved toward a small wooden bench under a lone tree.
He motioned for me to sit first.
I did.
