It wasn’t until Emily was invited to speak at an elite financial conference that the puzzle pieces began to fit together. The event was a gathering of the world’s economic leaders and philanthropists, a place where Emily’s voice could reach those with the power to effect real change. As she prepared to take the stage, she scanned the audience, her heart skipping when she saw him seated in the back, his presence unmistakable despite the years.

After her speech, an aide approached her with a note simply stating, “Meet me in the garden.” Curiosity piqued, Emily obliged. There, amidst the manicured hedges and blooming roses, Richard Lawson awaited her, the same piercing eyes but now with a touch of vulnerability.