rtment, one hand cradling the swell of my belly, the other wrapped around a mug of chamomile that had gone cold an hour ago. Ava and Noah were act

reedom tasted like takeout Chinese and freelance deadlines, not champagne and private jets. But it was honest. No more pretending I didn't

ling. Unknown number. I almost ignored

rough like he'd been d

et. "What do yo

d designer. You? With Victor fucking Lan

cheat." The words slipped out sharper t

d it. The whole thing was... I was stupid. Scared

scared. You were bored. And I was the s

softer: "Are you really

wins. But they're mine now. You signed awa

dn't

e accusation hang. "You we

e you. Talk. Please. I'm coming to Chicag

a little. Damn hormones. "

n my hand. I set the mug down hard enough that tea sl

d like fresh paint and baby powder-Mia had helped me set up the nursery last weekend. Two

rdering the wrong wine because he thought I'd like it fancy. The way he'd laughed when I correct

All

he office. Langston Tech occupied a sleek glass tower downtown, all chrome and ambition. Victor's assistant waved

he grunted, n

ice runs." I dropped into the ch

. SEC investigation widened. They're desperate. Word

e kicke

erage. You were married to the man for th

ions Ethan thought I wasn't paying attention to. Offshore accounts. Shell companies. One

On a drive. Proof he used compan

sharpened. "

to bur

nonymously, of course. I'll handle t

But it did. Like the first sip

in from New York. We sat in a quiet coffee shop nea

rring his latte. "Whistleblowing could

s," I muttered. "Might as

it through a third part

oo

e lit up again. Tex

s are half me. I want to be there. D

me after my parents' funeral, whispering promises. The rest of me remembered the red dress photo. Th

he right to "everything"

ed. A

o actually valued my brain. My bump grew impossible to hide under blazers. Colleagues

ame th

Networking," he said. "Show

med confidence instead of hiding the pregnancy. My hair in loose waves, minimal makeup. Fo

d deals. Victor introduced me to everyone worth knowing. I smiled, shook hands,

I saw

. Serena wasn't with him-she'd probably slunk away when the scandal

of sparkling water from a waite

rfe

he floor like a man

ept my voice cool

, voice low. "I flew here

th company money? How you called me distant

"I fucked up. Royal

r my belly. "You don't get to swoop in now

d out, then dropped. "I l

. Once, they'd been every

doesn't lie. Love doesn't sign divorce pap

ng around my waist in a casual, posse

im, then back to me. Rage

mildly. "Or the next merger won't

But his eyes lingered on my

he snowy city, Victor handed me a c

like thr

"That's the t

or a while. Snowflake

d you to piss Ethan off. But you're

his own wars. Not handsome in the po

whispered. "F

He smirked. "We're j

kes, felt eyes on me-some admiring, some calculating. Ethan wat

drove me home. No pressure,

used. "If he come

smiled, small but ge

Get some res

d my belly. The twins settled, as if

Ethan wasn't done

alright. But I was

fabulous chap