Falling for the Goddess

A Day Out in Milan

That afternoon, Sara Hart led the group on a walk along the canal-lined cobblestone paths of Milan's historic Navigli district.

They strolled beside the water as Sara suddenly stopped near a small dock.

"Do you all want to take a boat ride?"

They had passed several traditional wooden boats earlier—gliding slowly through the quiet canals. Since they were here, of course, they had to try it.

Sara approached a gondolier-like boatman and arranged the ride. Soon enough, one of the boats docked, ready for boarding.

"Careful," Sam Lewis said as he helped Ella Duvall into the boat, his hand gently shielding her head from bumping the low wooden canopy.

"Thanks," she said with a soft smile.

Behind them, Lucas Graves rolled his eyes dramatically and muttered under his breath,

"Oh, please—what a gentleman..."

Then, with zero delicacy, he leapt onto the boat.

"Whoa—!"

The sudden movement sent the boat rocking wildly. Eric Thorne, already seated, reached out to steady Xenia Graves, while she retaliated with a firm smack to Lucas's shoulder.

"Do you have to be so reckless? Watch it next time!"

Lucas rubbed his shoulder and slumped down beside Eric, grumbling quietly.

Once everyone was on board, the boatman pushed off with a long pole, propelling them gently down the canal.

The Navigli district's charm unfolded around them—rustic trattorias, vintage shops, weathered buildings adorned with climbing ivy. The sky was a soft Milanese blue, the air tinged with the aroma of coffee and warm pastries.

The rhythmic creaking of the oar, the shimmering reflections in the canal, and the occasional flutter of pigeons on the railing—it was all impossibly tranquil.

The boatman, clearly amused by his glamorous passengers, gave a cheerful and somewhat broken English tour of the area, pointing out centuries-old apartments, art galleries, and tucked-away cafes beloved by locals.

As they passed under arched bridges and watched the golden afternoon light play on the rippling water, Adrian Blake held Sara's hand quietly.

This city, with its soft grace and timeworn elegance, had shaped her—and Adrian felt it in every glance, every smile she gave.

"Did you ride these boats often growing up?" he asked gently.

Sara shook her head with a laugh.

"Not really. Most locals live right along the canals, so boats weren't part of daily life. It's become more of a tourist thing in recent years."

Milan had always been a city of contrasts—history and modernity, art and commerce. But for people like Sara's family, the rhythms of daily life had changed with the times. Now, tourism was a key part of the city's economy, and even boatmen made a living ferrying travelers along these old waterways.

Ella leaned over the side, watching the narrow alleys slip by. She turned to Sam and asked,

"You're more into hiking and mountains—how does this historic, artistic vibe feel to you?"

Sam chuckled softly.

"It's different, but in a good way. Peaceful. Slower. Like time's taking a nap."

For a group always rushing between meetings, this was a rare kind of luxury.

Ella's lips curved in a smile, her eyes glinting like liquid amber.

"Next time, let's go somewhere completely different again."

Sam blinked, caught off guard. Before he could respond, she turned away to chat with Sara.

He sighed inwardly. Somehow, this whole "pretend couple" thing had gone further than expected. Over the past weeks, he and Ella had fallen into a routine—dinners, movies, family visits. But outside those moments, they barely talked.

And yet, when they were together, she acted so comfortably—affectionate, even—like they were the real deal. Then, as soon as they parted ways, it was like flipping a switch.

Was he overthinking it? Maybe she was just playing the part. Or maybe... she was getting too good at playing it.

But now that it had reached this point, backing out didn't feel like an option. Besides, thanks to Ella, his grandfather had finally stopped nagging him about marriage.

His thoughts were interrupted by her voice again.

"When we're old, let's retire here," Ella said dreamily to Sara. "Drink tea in the sun, enjoy slow days by the canal... wouldn't that be lovely?"

Sara smirked.

"You? At a teahouse? I thought you'd be more of a mahjong queen in some lively back alley."

"Sara!" Ella shrieked and reached over to tickle her.

How dare she reveal her guilty pleasure in front of everyone?

Sam blinked again.

Ella plays mahjong?

Unexpectedly, Xenia chimed in.

"You play? What kind? We should set up a game night when we're back in North Capital!"

And just like that, the two women were deep in conversation—reminiscing about tea houses in North Capital, mutual acquaintances, and favorite mahjong strategies.

Despite their differences, their friendship bloomed instantly. Xenia, all blunt charm and no patience for pretense. Ella, dazzling yet down-to-earth, full of surprising quirks. It turned out, they clicked surprisingly well.

The men watched in silence as the girls bonded, shaking their heads with helpless amusement.

After the boat ride, Sara took everyone to tour a classic Italian garden villa.

Shaded by towering cypress and plane trees, the villa's pathways meandered through tranquil ponds, intricate stone bridges, and old marble sculptures. Every turn revealed a new scene—elegant, refined, deeply poetic.

As the sun dipped low, painting the sky in honeyed hues, Sara led them to a century-old Lombard restaurant she had reserved ahead of time.

The interior was as timeless as the city itself—wood-beamed ceilings, wrought-iron chandeliers, antique furniture. It felt like stepping into another century.

"This place serves the most authentic Milanese cuisine," she told them. "You have to try everything."

Even though they'd already had local dishes at lunch, Sara insisted on giving them a taste of true private kitchen-style meals.

She ordered generously: osso buco, risotto alla Milanese, cotoletta, stuffed squash blossoms, and minestrone with local herbs.

As she closed the menu, she added,

"Tomorrow morning, I'll take you to get fresh pasta and saffron buns from this amazing local spot. You'll love it."

Ella pinched her own cheek, mock-wailing.

"Sara, if I stay here any longer, I'm going to roll home."

Sam gave her a quick once-over—slim arms, slender legs. Where exactly would the extra weight go?

Xenia let out a dramatic sigh.

"I've been eating like a queen. All that clean-eating and gym routine? Totally wrecked."

"Right? Any more food and you'll never get married," Lucas teased.

Unsurprisingly, he got smacked by Xenia for his trouble.