LOGINLilly snorts like that’s the funniest thing she’s ever heard.“I’m serious,” Juliette continues before her attention shifts back to me. “Especially after the advice she gave me in Paris. Which reminds me,” she says, narrowing her eyes slightly, “I’m very disappointed you never used the card I gave y
Lilly blinks slowly before she bursts out laughing.“That’s probably Mom,” she says casually.My breathing picks up as I scramble with my phone. “No—no, I need to send it back.”“What?” she grabs my wrist. “Are you insane?”“That’s too much, Lilly,” I argue. “How is she supposed to run the company?
“I’m leaving,” I say, stopping a few steps away from him. “I only agreed to stay one night, so now it’s time for me to leave.”I brace myself for an argument, for him to push back the way he usually does, but instead, he nods.“Fine.”That catches me off guard and I immediately deflate. I was ready
SIERRA.I’m just finishing getting ready when my phone rings. For a second, I stare at the screen, not really expecting to see his name there, but when I do, my chest tightens slightly.I hesitate before answering, then swipe to pick up the call.“Hey, Adrian,” I say softly.There’s a small pause on
After dinner, the twins insist she helps tuck them in. We go together, the routine surprisingly easy, like we’ve done it a hundred times before. Nova falls asleep first. After Nolan falls asleep, we step out of his room, closing the door behind us.I hesitate before speaking “Can we talk?”She turns
My thoughts drift again, but this time it’s to the scene in the car. What she told me keeps playing in my head.I tense slightly, pushing away from the window every single inch of my body fighting against her words.‘You loved Chloe.’I refuse the statement, shaking my head, as I try to ground mysel
Uncle Gabe nods slowly, his usual gruffness giving way to something gentler. “You blink, and they’re adults. Responsible ones, too.” He clears his throat. “Though one of them still has a knack for causing heart attacks every once in a while.”Dad chuckles, but Uncle Gabe turns his piercing grey gaze
When the timer on the oven beeps, Nova squeals, dropping her rag. “They’re ready!”She rushes to the oven, standing on her toes. I pull out the tray carefully, the scent of sugar and vanilla filling the air.“They look perfect,” I tell her, setting them down.Nolan immediately reaches for one, but I
I stay frozen in place, my body refusing to move, my mind caught somewhere between the Director’s call and the flood of memories I just unleashed.Closing my eyes, I draw in a long breath, then another, repeating the action until it anchors me to the present.There’s nothing to be afraid of, I tell
—Chloe.”“Dear Sierra,I was surprised when you finally called, even though you went back to ignoring my calls and texts. Thank you for the congratulations. I named the twins Nova and Nolan. I know you once dreamed of giving those names to your children with Noah, but since that will never happen, I







