— Then I’ll wait until you are.
Alistair looks at me, and I feel like I’m about to completely unravel under the weight of the love in his eyes.
Suddenly, a loud bleat followed by a shout echoes from outside. We both turn toward the open window to see Hamish—our ever-present sheep—being chased across the garden by Lachlan. The animal appears to be dragging what looks suspiciously like one of Maggie’s hats.
Despite everything, laughter bursts out of me. Alistair joins in, and for a moment, the tension between us lifts.
— Hamish has impeccable timing, Alistair remarks.
He shakes his head, smiling.
— It’s his superpower, I agree. That—and finding ancient secret passages.
Our eyes meet again, and something has shifted. A lightness settles between us, as if we’ve finally understood that life is too short for misunderstandings and unnecessary sacrifices.
— Keira… maybe we could start by looking for the other half of Archibald and Elspeth’s treasure? Together?
The suggestion sounds innocent, but it carries weight. This isn’t just a treasure hunt—it’s a chance to rewrite history. To give our story a different ending than theirs.
— Strictly for solving the historical mystery, I clarify, still unable to fully surrender to hope.
— Of course, he says with a smile that suggests he doesn’t believe a word of it. Purely historical purposes.
— Exactly.
— Any idea where the other half might be?
I think, mentally combing through every corner of McGregor Castle that could serve as a hiding place.
— Maybe the family archives? Or the old hunting lodge. It’s the oldest building on the estate.
— Where do you want to start?
I stand, suddenly eager to begin. It’s an excuse to spend time with him without having to admit it’s exactly what I want.
— Let’s go retrieve Hamish before he destroys the entire garden, I say. Then we can start with the archives.
Alistair rises as well, carefully gathering the items back into the box.
— After you, he says, gesturing toward the door with quiet gallantry.
As we leave the library, a strange lightness fills me—and for the first time in days, I let myself believe that maybe… just maybe… our story might still have a happy ending.
CHAPITRE 28
ALISTAIR
Shared Legacy
There are a dozen ways to win a woman back. Flowers. Poetry. Grand, breathless declarations shouted beneath her window. History has proven all of them effective. But I’m fairly certain I’m the first man to attempt it by dragging the woman I love into a treasure hunt—with a divining rod, a kleptomaniac sheep, and a map that’s over a century old.
Yeah… my life has taken a very unexpected turn lately.
— Are you sure this is the right place? Keira asks, studying the half-torn map we’ve spread across a tree stump.
We’re standing on the infamous southern parcel of the McGregor estate—the one my father has been eyeing for years for his expansion plans. The early morning sun washes the rolling hills in soft gold, a thin veil of mist still clinging to the tall grass. It’s beautiful. More beautiful than I ever allowed myselfto notice before, back when all I saw was land to acquire… an obstacle to overcome.
— According to the map, there should be a water source somewhere around here, I say, tracing a faded ink line with my finger. That’s where the divining rod comes in.
