The other woman was ME

-

TER

ollow

f Villa Serena, its engine a quiet hum against the te

most as if sensing her resolve. The silence beside her was filled only with the faint clicks of the driver's turn

r the life grow

s of love might remain

-

Days E

all, tucked into the wooded edge of a coastal town called Fira's

spoke in soft sentences and brewed tea like it was therapy. She asked no qu

breath in weeks the mo

beautiful,"

d. "Then it's yours for

-

e: The C

ed, speculated. The leak had done more than damage the company's image-it had reignited the lawsuit that ha

were holding

the other end

looked at h

wers, Damian stayed behind. Alone, except for the

ow how to re

now if h

without her fe

-

ra's

again. Not stories

he c

t they were real. Realer than the world

're still a mystery, but you're mine. You came into all this before you had a name. B

metimes. Not

fear. From the ache

offered warmth that did

-

a Br

enhouse

ended th

tion and couldn't lift her hand to dust a shelf. The w

d saw not a child-but a ghost o

ayes cal

dn't a

Damian. But because betraya

t sent th

n't stopped

ade her guil

just made

-

Vi

a knock came at M

sn't

as E

Her hands tightened on

s spectral, more woman. Her face was bare, her hair p

me," Elena said firs

d aside. L

didn'

nothing in particular. Her fingers brushed a books

anted," she said. "Ev

wa

your contract.

"But you didn't s

N

hed like glass

ill do, I think. But I also know...

don't lose a person all at o

were already broken. I just di

anted to r

t's what mak

n at Mia's belly. Her hand lifted-he

no

her stomach. Her breath caught. "You're real," s

ent p

e stepp

said. "Not to him. To this wa

ed. "What w

m leaving Villa Serena. M

o the door,

lf for hurting both of us," she said.

she

t something loosen inside her.

.. re

-

Conf

, Mia sat

write ano

e flames until a new kn

mi

at. His tie was gone

t come here," he said. "

idn't

t like I was walking backward in

e only when she

one you gave the nurse. About wan

ought it would be

't have to make it easier.

at him-tr

you want,

r was slo

A chance at a di

But the world still se

the world

sca

am

nce

stay tonight? Just to

hesi

nod

t touch. D

curled beneath a blanket near the fir

somethi

like begin

-