A Reminder.

Gracelyn paused mid-step, her fingers still curled around the edge of the door, and turned at the call of her name.

“Miss V.”

Anna stood a few feet away, slightly out of breath, her hands clasped nervously in front of her. The timid girl from before was still there but something had changed.

There was a little strength in her posture now, like a flame that had just learned how to stay lit.

Gracelyn’s gaze softened, but remained neutral.

Anna glanced briefly toward Rex, who stood a short distance away, his presence as commanding as ever.

She gave a respectful bow before quickly walking over to Gracelyn.

“Can we… talk?” she asked quietly.

Gracelyn nodded once. “Come in.”

They stepped into the office together, and the door clicked shut behind them, sealing off the outside world and everything else.

Gracelyn gestured toward the chair opposite her desk. “Sit.”

Anna obeyed immediately, smoothing her skirt as she sat, her fingers still fidgeting. There was a brief silence before she looked up, her eyes slightly glossy.

“I… I wanted to thank you,” she began, her voice trembling but filled with innocence and sincerity. “For today. For everything.”

Gracelyn leaned back slightly, studying her.

“You didn’t have to step in like that,” Anna continued. “But you did. And, I don’t think anyone has ever done that for me before.”

Her voice cracked a little at the end, and she quickly looked down, blinking rapidly to avoid crying again.

Alrgough this time, it would have been tests of joy and relief.

Gracelyn’s expression didn’t change much, but something in her eyes flickered.

At least, Anna was strong. Stronger than young Gracelyn. At least, she had helped her, when no one did.

She saw the younger version of her in Anna, and would do what she would have done for herself if she had had the opportunity.

“You were hiding,” Gracelyn said simply. “From them. From yourself.”

Anna nodded slowly.

“I was scared,” she admitted. “I thought… if I just stayed quiet and obey them, they’d stop.”

“They never stop,” Gracelyn said, her tone calm but firm. “Not unless you make them.”

Anna swallowed, then gave a small nod.

“You helped me find my voice,” she said. “And my mother…” her face softened, gratitude flooding her features, “she couldn’t stop talking about you, when I called. She said you saved her.”

Gracelyn waved it off lightly. “I didn’t save anyone. I just did what was necessary.”

Anna shook her head. “It meant everything to us.”

There was a pause, then Anna straightened slightly, determination slipping into her expression as if she had just made a big decision.

“I owe you,” she said. “Anything you need…anything at all, I’ll do it.”

Gracelyn’s gaze sharpened just a second, before returning to normal.

“That won’t be necessary,” she replied. “Focus on yourself. Grow a spine. Defend it. I won’t always be there to help you, so you must protect yourself at all cost, and never let anyone walk over you.”

Anna let out a small, breathy laugh. “I will.”

Gracelyn gave a single nod. “Good.”

Anna stood, smoothing her clothes again. “Thank you… again, Miss V.”

Gracelyn didn’t respond this time, and just watched as Anna turned and walked out.

The door clicked shut, and then, there was silence.

Gracelyn exhaled slowly, her shoulders dropping just slightly as the tension left her body. She turned toward the window, staring out at the city below.

But her mind wasn’t there.

It drifted.

To him.

Her son.

A sharp ache pierced through her chest, sudden and deep, like it always was.

Her fingers tightened against the edge of the desk as the memory tried to claw its way to the surface.

The pain of losing her child.

He didn’t even have the opportunity to see the world.

No, to see his mother.

Her heart ached, and she took in a sharp breath.

Her eyes burned as tears welled up, threatening to spill, but she blinked rapidly, forcing them back.

No.

Not here. Not now. Not ever again.

Her jaw tightened.

That pain… it was a reminder.

A reminder that attachment was weakness.

A reminder that love was a liability.

A reminder that her family had abandoned her and wouldn’t care if she died.

A reminder that Rex…

Her expression hardened instantly.

A reminder that Rex would never be the reason she had to plead her innocence and hope to be heard. That Rex would never be allowed to break her.

Not again. Not in any way.

She straightened, inhaling deeply, pushing everything down into the place she had built for it…the place where nothing could touch her.

By the time she turned back to her desk, her face was composed like she wasn’t about to break down a couple of minutes ago.

Work.

That was all that mattered.

She flipped open a file, scanning through documents related to the Rebirth Collection.

Fabrics, timelines, projections…everything was in place, everything was correct. Her pen moved across the paper, circling key points, and making notes.

Time moved by unnoticed.

A soft knock broke the silence.

“Come in.”

The door opened slightly, and Maverick stepped in. “Ma’am, it’s 11:15. The conference starts in less than an hour. Mr. Sinclair is waiting.”

Gracelyn closed the file with a soft snap.

“Thank you, Maverick.”

She reached for her bag, slipping her notepad inside. As she stood, there was a brief pause, a flicker of reluctance.

Being in the same space as Rex was… complicated.

But she knew she couldn’t avoid him. She couldn’t avoid being in the same space when they literally share the same floor.

If she took her personal car, that would only invite questions.

And Gracelyn hated being questioned or having to explain herself.

“I’m ready,” she said.

Maverick nodded and stepped aside, allowing her to walk ahead. As they moved through the hallway, he glanced at her bag.

“Should I carry that for you, ma’am?”

Gracelyn shook her head lightly. “No. I’ve got it, thank you.”

He didn’t insist.

They stepped outside, where the car was already waiting.

The tinted windows were so dark they reflected nothing, concealing everything inside.

Maverick opened the door.

Gracelyn stepped in.

She froze just for a fraction of a second.

Rex was already inside.