celebration, five years of marriage, ten yea

his smile usually warm

va. To ma

knot was already tigh

for weeks, a new

ere's someone I w

d our table, all wide e

he's an intern at the co

ooked barely o

es," Tiffany said, her voice a little too s

iversary cake, a small, el

re" it, her hand somehow knoc

perfect red stain blooming

" Tiffany gasped, her hands flyi

icker of annoyance, but

iffany. Accid

didn't see the ruined c

ner was a blur of f

our large, empty Seattle

, but in pieces

able to meet my eyes. "T

in the air, c

continued, his voic

oor drop out

tched. I cou

ows. He's... he thinks this is

h a male heir, with continuing

I co-founded. The one

To accept Tiffany, and the baby. J

em? Into

inally looking at me, his eyes pleading, but wea

ally asking

't just break

l, Ava. For the fami

ake my hand.

u, Ava. This doe

word felt

ther, for the legacy. He

range calm washing ov

my voice flat, unrecog

relieved

mmodating. He thought

Ethan was asleep in the guest room he

I scrolled to a number

CEO. A name from a past I

efore he answered, his

sounded

"That offer you made a long time ago... the