The Confession

As Delia awoke from her unexpected afternoon siesta, the soft glow of evening light filtered through the curtains, casting a warm hue across the room. Blinking away the remnants of sleep, she glanced at her phone, half-expecting to find a message from Rafe.

Disappointment flickered briefly as she saw none, but she brushed it aside with a shrug, reminding herself that he had promised to see her later. She decided to head to the beach and take a dip into the ocean to freshen up.

She slipped into her white one-piece swimsuit and made her way down the beach access. As she reached the shoreline, the sound of crashing waves greeted her.

Without hesitation, Delia waded into the ocean, the water refreshing against her skin after the warmth of the day. To her surprise, she spotted Ethan in the distance, his muscular arms cutting strong strokes through the water as he swam laps in the open expanse.

Delia waved out to him, a smile lighting up her face as their eyes met. Ethan returned