Charles’ POVThe morning light poured through the tall windows of the estate kitchen, streaking across the marble countertops like golden ribbons, but I barely noticed. My coffee had gone lukewarm, the porcelain mug warming only my fingers now as I sat, contemplative, at the edge of the breakfast ta
Maya’s POVThe light from the hospital window filtered in soft and golden, casting a halo around the tiny bundle in the bassinet next to my bed. I could hardly believe he was real. My son. Oscar Charles. Just saying his name in my head brought tears to my eyes, the kind that burned and shimmered bef
Charles’ POVI pace back and forth before the sleek glass doors of the hospital delivery suite, heart galloping in my chest even though I’m firmly planted on solid ground. It had been an early-morning storm of worry when Maya arrived, the contractions began but the doctors gently reminded us that no
Madelin’s POVMornings have come to feel softer lately, the edges of urgency finally losing their sharpness. I rise when dawn is still whispering, Barrett already awake and waiting. We share our first cups of coffee in the sunroom, the light drifting over the velvet chairs, the patter of rain someti
“I’ll attend the board meeting,” Barrett said. “Let’s treat this like any initiative—budgeted, forecasted, reviewed.”I glanced from Louis to Barrett and back. My chest felt tight, but my voice came steady. “Fine. We’ll run it. But I want metrics. I want milestones. I want accountability.”Barrett f
Charles’ POVI sat behind my mahogany desk, slick with polished lacquer, and labored over spreadsheets, projections, and legislative lobbying documents for hours. I was chasing a multimillion-dollar land acquisition in West Texas—untapped acreage for new drilling operations. On top of that I was jug