Julian smiled faintly, his expression a mix of nostalgia and quiet pride.
"Yes... who would've thought, right?"
Rose let out a soft breath, the tension in her shoulders finally easing.
"Thank the gods," she murmured, "He really has favored us."
Julian raised a brow, a playful smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Why thank him? Thank yourself."
But Rose shook her head with conviction.
"No... there are some things we just can't have unless they're written into our fate. No matter how hard we try. Some things are simply… destined."
Julian's chuckle echoed in the spacious chamber. He leaned casually against the side of her desk, arms crossed.
"Fate, huh? What really is fate to you?" he asked. "Us meeting… is that fate to you? Me helping you when you were at your lowest… Was that fate too?"
Rose glanced down at the documents on her desk, her expression softening.
"Maybe it was," she replied. "Maybe you were supposed to walk into my life and change everything."
