go straigh

and baths and bedtime stories. But deep down, she knew the truth-she needed time. Time

ence heavier. The children were in the living room with the babysitter Adrian had arranged, the

uted, jumping up

immediately, practical and serious,

lowly, watching her carefully, a

nto her arms. Their warmth grounded her.

you," she

one by one. She lingered longer than usual-brushing Elena's hair, straightening Noa

like she might need the me

iet, Lina sat alone at the kitchen

ternal memos. A consent form bearing a signature that looked like h

omach

't just a

e layered with sil

hone

le: Where

osed he

city stretched out below, glittering and indifferent. He stood the moment she ente

o long," he

o think," L

sit. Neit

eaten you?"

Lina sa

ched. "Which

't make demands." Lina placed the env

t for a long momen

the darker his e

nally. "Some of this was never

kno

the narrative," he said

g," Lina finished. "She

and dropped into his ch

cted softly. "Th

ching her face. "You shou

nted me

exactl

mmediately. "I'm sorry. I just... I needed to se

d n

Now I know she's pat

bbing a hand over his

aid quickly.

fro

ha

into a public war," Lina said. "And Ethan, N

ying?" His voice wa

ed. "We protect the kids. We document ev

e reluctant admiration flickering

llow smile. "S

interrup

ale. "I'm sorry to interrupt, bu

ightened. "

d the review," she said. "They wa

heart d

d sharply. "That's impossi

formation,'" the as

t the ro

nform

ri

moved," Lin

ned. "I won't let t

Lina said. "The system

, Lina bar

re dawn and cleaned obsessively-scrubbing counters that were already spotless, rearranging toy

nock came, her ne

e. Polite. Professiona

th a practiced smile. "We're her

o Lina's legs as the

estions. Too

cipline. About finances.

She smiled when appropriate. She

ed at the wall where the ch

their father w

ed-just for

said. "He's

ental figure?" the wo

ned. "She's... recen

cribbled so

on felt louder

stood at her penthouse wind

de now," a vo

calmly. "Let me kno

d and stared do

ore was

thout power was

t her life on unde

d leaned against it, her knees giving out. She slid to the

hone

ail noti

mediate Rev

red at t

hook as she

ed reading the first l

d already decided