.stats-section {
    position: relative;
    /* REPLACE URL WITH YOUR BACKGROUND IMAGE */
    background-image: url('https://www.michaelpaul.realestate/public/MICHAELPAUL/theme0002/assets/images/backgrounds/counter-bg.webp');
    background-size: cover;
    background-position: center;
    background-attachment: fixed; /* Optional: adds a slight parallax effect */
    padding: 120px 0;
    color: #ffffff;
}

.stats-overlay {
    position: absolute;
    top: 0;
    left: 0;
    width: 100%;
    height: 100%;
    /* Dark gradient overlay to make text pop */
    background: linear-gradient(to right, rgba(0,0,0,0.85) 0%, rgba(0,0,0,0.6) 50%, rgba(0,0,0,0.85) 100%);
    z-index: 1;
}

.stats-content {
    position: relative;
    z-index: 2; /* Keeps content above the overlay */
}

/* --- Stats Styling --- */
.stat-item {
    padding: 0 20px;
    position: relative;
}

/* Vertical separators */
.stat-item:not(:last-child)::after {
    content: '';
    position: absolute;
    right: 0;
    top: 10%;
    height: 80%;
    width: 1px;
    background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.2);
}

.stat-number-wrapper {
    font-size: 4.25vw;
    font-weight: 500;
    line-height: 1;
    margin-bottom: 15px;
    display: flex;
    justify-content: center;
    align-items: baseline;
    font-family: var(--font-01);
}

.stat-desc {
    font-size: 1.125vw;
    font-weight: 400;
    text-transform: uppercase;
    letter-spacing: 0.1em;
    color: #d1d1d1;
    line-height: 1.6;
    margin: 0 auto;
    margin-top: 1.188vw;
    max-width: 250px;
}

/* --- Responsive Design --- */
@media (max-width: 991px) {
    .stat-item:not(:last-child)::after {
        display: none; /* Hide vertical lines on smaller screens */
    }
    .stat-item {
        margin-bottom: 40px;
    }
    .main-title {
        font-size: 36px;
    }
    .stat-number-wrapper {
        font-size: 50px;
    }
}
@media (max-width: 767.98px){
    .stats-section{
        padding: 60px 0;
    }
    .stat-desc{
        font-size: 16px;
    }
    .stat-item{
        margin-bottom: 25px;
    }
    .stat-number-wrapper{
        font-size: 35px;
    }
}