The other woman was ME

PTE

use We

d had c

t, the waves still curled against the cliffs below the cottage. But so

with ant

hearth, the way the faucet groaned before it gave. This house had been a refuge,

e hadn't meant to buy yet. Washing dishes with too much care.

sn't n

s prep

t for t

od on the world's stage a

-

s-one or two nights in Eldoria, meetings with Jonah, quiet negoti

ys t

her news li

suit jacket and letting it fall over the back of the chair.

up, her hands moving rh

used to have. The press is watching too c

er. "You did that. You turn

ds on her hips. "No. You did. I just s

-

gun carving

nals, sometimes children's books. Once, embarrassingly, from a biogr

them understand the legac

e chapter where he threatened to sue the city

y kind that built intimacy slo

amian was already awake beside her, tracing the

it?" she

urmured. "We never got

d in the d

th you. Wherev

ace him. "Where

et a long

the city, so the baby doesn't gro

egret leavin

emp

no

r. "Not if I get to b

-

Eld

retu

dal. Not with

a sig

ed in Damian's inbox on a Wednesday morning, si

e happy, Damian. Or at least honest.

press leaks.

clo

was e

-

ster, Lydia. They hadn't spoken since their mother's fune

-eds. Had watched the man the world called a billionaire

nd what you were do

ven when it cost you. And I'm sorry

't ever

was som

tucked it into the drawer

-

, they left

se home was no longer a hiding place-it was

e streets and wild ivy walls. It had a garden in the back and uneven

said when they first toured it

replied. "But we'

-

ecame their f

ed to assemble a crib without instructions and swore c

. Mia wanted neutral tones. Dam

f they're adven

they're a

over the elephants

her eyes

s and folding tiny socks,

t yet. But they w

the child that would one day fill the silence between t

terri

was

as r

-

and the curtains were up, Damian stood in

him, wrapping her a

e you th

ever imag

... a

love. The kind that doesn't h

ck. "You didn't have to imagine it.

-

Week

held its annual s

son since the scandal broke. The room was f

y longer now, lines deeper around his eyes-but steadier.

begin wi

n with

n from risk, sweat, and a desire to build. With the way power had onc

n communities. Of expanding employee benefi

ty as a liability," he said. "

offstage, a standing o

ayes did

dn't spea

is time, wa

-

from the couch, a hand over her bel

home, she greeted

you how proud

n to kiss her foreh

everything. Not

t every

kno

nd and led him

ing," she said, pulling somet

eyebrow. "W

a small, n

-and inside,

y, unmistak

g a daughter

ared at t

hock, wonder, fear, love. He looked at Mia with a k

w to be a father

iding his hand over her stom

-

quieted and the world outside forgot th

ead on his shoulder, f

arry you," h

was no hesitati

she didn't as

t too," she

to her,

but bring a ring. And maybe don't do

lau

he la

re once only silenc

-