Standing a few paces away, Nicolas watched. He apporoached, the sunlight danced in his mahogany eyes, casting an enigmatic warmth that seemed to mirror the hues of the garden around them. His stride exuded a casual confidence, hands tucked effortlessly into his pockets, adding an air of nonchalance to the scene.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" he repeated, the richness of his voice harmonizing with the daylight that bathed the garden. The subtle melody in his words wove into the ambient sounds of nature. "But appearances can be deceiving," he cautioned, his smile carrying a hint of both mystery and amusement.
Alicia, her hand now withdrawn from the captivating flower, shifted her gaze to the man before her. Despite the familiarity in his features, she struggled to place where she had encountered him. His presence seemed to carry a magnetic allure, leaving her momentarily transfixed in the garden's ethereal embrace.
