Naomi didn't know why, but her heart began to thud loudly in her chest. The sound seemed so intense that she feared it might echo through the stillness of the dining room. She couldn't fathom what was happening, yet her cheeks warmed with a faint pink hue creeping across them. She bit the inside of her lip, trying to calm the inexplicable rush of emotions, but disbelief gripped her tightly. Could it really be happening just as she had asked about him?
Her flush deepened, her hands tightening around the fork as if it were the only thing anchoring her to reality. The room suddenly grew unnervingly quiet, and she became hyperaware of the faint sounds around her—the muffled rustle of clothing, the soft clatter of utensils being moved. The air was thick with anticipation, and Naomi couldn't shake the feeling that something monumental was unfolding, something she wasn't fully prepared for.
