Atlas took a sip of his wine, exhaling deeply before meeting Ezekiel's gaze.
"I..." he began, but Ezekiel cut him off gently, expressing concern. "You don't have to explain, Atlas. I know you're reliable and responsible. But I hope you can move on from my sister and embrace a new life without regrets, without hurting yourself or others," he said.
Atlas fell silent, refilling their glasses. He cast his gaze over the garden, now bustling with arriving guests, his eyes scanning the crowd below in search of Ezme's face. His mother had taken Ezme with her early in the morning. He felt relieved seeing Ezme getting along so well with his family despite having met them only the night before.
Ezme was a peculiar woman indeed. Last night, she had challenged him, and he found himself entangled in her playful antics. He had to admit he was surprised at how much she seemed to affect him. He still couldn't believe he had spent the night sleep-deprived while she slept soundly beside him.
