The town had started treating Vivienne like she’d always been there. She now wore boots with dirt on them. She helped set up the community center’s fundraiser. She kissed Jack in public—and no one dared comment. Her transformation wasn’t just…

She watched it happen. At the bonfire’s final embers, the couples—four people she had tested and guided—had leaned just a little too far. Dani let her hand drift down Maddie’s thigh before thinking again. Mark kissed Liana instead of Maddie…

The town square was alive. Bunting of red, white, and blue curled around light poles and storefronts. Booths lined Main Street—grilled corn, funnel cake, lemonade, hand-carved crafts. Laughter echoed across the green where kids ran with sparklers and old-timers tuned…

The sun filtered through the high cabin windows, warm and quiet. A slow breeze crept through the open screen door, fluttering the edges of a flannel shirt draped over a chair. Jack stood shirtless by the stove, frying bacon in…

The early mountain sun broke over the trees with sharp clarity—no haze, no softness—just crisp beams of light cutting through the glass of the cabin like truth. Jack stood at the sink in his kitchen, steaming mug of black coffee…