Chapter 57: "The Morning After"

Taylor woke up to the soft glow of the early morning sun streaming through the windows of their bedroom. The events of the previous night played in her mind like a dream—the stars, the lake, and Alex’s heartfelt proposal. She rolled over to find Alex still asleep beside her, his features relaxed in the peacefulness of sleep. Her heart swelled with love as she watched him, feeling an overwhelming sense of happiness that she hadn’t known was possible. But as much as she wanted to bask in the joy of their engagement, there was an undercurrent of anxiety that she couldn’t shake. Taylor had always imagined that the day she got engaged would be the happiest day of her life. And it was—except for the nagging feeling that something wasn’t quite right. She slipped out of bed quietly, careful not to wake Alex, and tiptoed to the kitchen. The apartment was silent, save for the occasional creak of the floorboards beneath her feet. Taylor busied herself with making coffee, trying to push the unea