ANMELDENLydia arrived before Daniel.She chose a table at the back of the restaurant, away from the windows and far enough from the entrance that she could see anyone who walked in.She had spent the entire morning thinking about the meeting.Not about what she would ask him.About what she wouldn't.Because there were questions she had been carrying since the night he appeared at her house, questions she had been too afraid to ask then.The restaurant door opened.Daniel walked in.Their eyes met.For a moment, Lydia forgot to breathe.She had seen him alive before.That should have made this easier.It didn't.There was still something deeply unsettling about watching a man she had mourned walk toward her as if the last four years had never happened.Daniel reached the table."You came."Lydia looked at him."You sound surprised.""I wasn't sure you would.""You came to my house without warning and told me things that made me question everything I believed for four years."Daniel pulled out
Three days after signing the lease, Seraphina finally moved into her new apartment.There wasn't much to move.Most of her belongings had remained packed at Diana's house, and the few things she had accumulated over the past several weeks fit easily into the back of a moving truck.By late afternoon, the apartment finally looked like hers.There were still unopened boxes in the living room.A few clothes were hanging in the wardrobe.Her books were scattered across one of the shelves.Nothing was perfect.But it was hers.Seraphina stood in the middle of the living room and smiled.She had never realized how much having a door she could close behind her would mean.Her phone rang.Julian.She answered."Hello.""Have you moved in?""Yes.""Everything?""Most of it.""Do you need anything?""No.""You didn't even let me ask."She smiled."Because I know what you're going to ask.""And?""I'm fine."There was a pause."Good."She looked toward the window.Dark clouds were beginning to g
Seraphina stood in the bedroom she had been using at Diana's house, staring at the suitcase she still hadn't completely unpacked.She had been telling herself that she would only stay for a short while.That was before the divorce became complicated.Before Evan started delaying the proceedings.Before Julian proposed.Before the wedding became something they were actually planning.Now, every time she looked around the room, she was reminded that this wasn't her life.It was a temporary place between one life and another.She sat on the edge of the bed and looked at her phone.She had a divorce that was still unfinished.A wedding that was being planned.A fiancé who had become far more involved in her life than she had expected.And she was still living in someone else's house.She picked up her phone and called a real estate agent.By the time the call ended, she had arranged to view three apartments.She felt strangely relieved.For once, there was something she could decide witho
Seraphina had been to Julian's office enough times to know the place by now.She knew the receptionist who always greeted her with a smile. She knew which elevator Julian preferred. She even knew that Marcus usually appeared at some point, either carrying a folder or quietly reminding Julian about a meeting he had almost forgotten.But she had never really seen Julian work.Usually, when she came to the office, they talked about her divorce, Evan, their arrangement, or whatever problem had brought them together that day.Today was different.She had come because Julian had asked her to spend the morning with him.When she entered his office, he was already on a call."Move the meeting to three. No, don't cancel it. I want everyone there." He paused, listening. "Then send the revised figures to my email before noon."He ended the call and looked at her."You're early."She glanced at the clock."By three minutes.""That's early."She smiled."You've said that before.""And I'll keep sa
Seraphina sat quietly in Margaret's office, watching her review the latest correspondence from Evan's side.Margaret finally closed the folder."Evan's request for another delay is not going to stop the divorce, but it may slow things down."Seraphina exhaled."How long?""A few weeks, if the court grants it."Seraphina looked down at her hands."He's doing it deliberately.""I believe so.""He doesn't want the marriage to end."Margaret studied her."That may be true, but don't let his intentions distract you from yours."Seraphina nodded."I won't."She had learned that much.Evan could delay the paperwork.He could make the process difficult.He could refuse to accept what was happening.But he couldn't make her return to him.Margaret gathered the documents."I'll keep pushing. For now, focus on what comes after."Seraphina looked up."After?""Your life after Evan."The words stayed with her even after she left the office.Outside, she sat in her car for several minutes before s
Evan sat behind his desk, staring at the papers his lawyer had sent that morning.The divorce.Again.He had already delayed the proceedings once, and now Margaret was pushing back on his latest attempt.His lawyer had warned him that the court would not allow him to delay the process forever.Evan didn't care.He needed more time.His phone rang."Hello?"His lawyer's voice came through."I've reviewed the request from Seraphina's side.""And?""Margaret is asking the court to proceed without further delays."Evan leaned back in his chair."I want another delay.""You've already asked for one.""I know.""Evan, you need to understand that the court may not grant it.""Then find another reason."His lawyer sighed."I'm trying to protect you here.""I don't need protection. I need time.""For what?"Evan looked toward the window."To settle things."His lawyer was silent for a moment.Finally, he said, "I'll see what I can do.""Do that."Evan ended the call.He looked at the divorce p







