I took a deep breath, looked at the stairs, then back at the boy. I stood frozen, torn between logic and instinct. No matter what had happened between me and Regan, no child deserved to be caught in the middle of it. Not even his.My fingers trembled slightly as I took one step forward. Then another. The voices were still raised. The argument wasn’t ending anytime soon.When the boy noticed me, he startled—and bolted down the hallway.“Wait,” I called softly, but he didn’t look back.I didn’t hesitate this time and followed him.The boy turned the corner, running down another hall, leading me past a small sunroom and into the deeper part of the house. He stopped in front of a door and slipped inside, closing it quickly behind him. I paused outside the door, heart still steady, but nerves creeping in. I shouldn’t be doing this. But I couldn’t ignore it.I raised my hand and gently knocked.“Um…” I said calmly. “Can I come in?”There was a pause. Then, the soft sound of the lock clickin
Caroline’s breath hitched behind me. Her face went pale, eyes wide. She scrambled to her feet in a daze, and I reached out, steadying her as she rose. Her fingers briefly clung to my arm before she pulled away, wiping her face with trembling hands.Then, without another word, she ran. Not walked — ran. As if it was life or death. I didn’t even think. I followed. Past the hallway, through the dining room, until the voices grew louder — more cutting. But when I reached the edge of the living room, I didn’t enter.I stayed in the shadows just behind the doorframe, my heart thudding in my ears, trying to make sense of what was happening.And then I saw him.Regan.Still in a charcoal-gray suit, the tie loosened, the top buttons of his shirt undone. His hair was damp from sweat, I couldn’t tell — and clung slightly to his forehead. He looked like he had run straight from work, but there was nothing composed about him now. His face was flushed with anger
It stretched between us. Caroline stirred her tea, watching the ripples in her cup rather than meeting my eyes. The breeze shifted, carrying the faint scent of roses.“A lot has changed,” she finally said, her voice low. “Things happened. Mistakes were made.”She smiled faintly, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. Regret clung to her words. It was strange. This was the first real conversation we’d had in years, yet somehow, it didn’t feel as awkward as I had imagined. Still, I wasn’t here to reminisce or reopen old wounds.“You said you wanted to talk,” I reminded her, setting my cup down.Caroline turned slightly toward me, her face unreadable. “I wanted to know… what exactly do you need to speak with Regan about?”There was no hesitation in me.“The divorce,” I said flatly. “I want the papers signed. No more delays.”She didn’t flinch. No widening of the eyes. No sharp inhale. Just a single nod. Like she already knew.That made me pause. “You’re not surprised.”Caroline glanced away
Anastasia’s POVI pressed my phone to my ear as I stared out the hotel window, watching the rain soften into a drizzle over the edges of the city skyline. The glass was cool beneath my fingertips, my forehead resting against it without much thought. Drops traced slow, creating paths down the pane. I barely noticed the chill.Phoenix picked up on the second ring, her voice groggy but alert. “Hey?”“Hey… did I wake you up?”There was a soft rustle on her end. “No, you didn’t. Anyway, what’s up?”I hesitated for a beat. “Hmm… I might stay another week here,” I murmured.Silence. I could practically hear her shift, sitting upright now.“Wait—what?” she repeated, this time sharper. “Why? Is he giving you a hard time?”I closed my eyes briefly. “No, no… it’s not like that.”“Then why do you need to stay there for a week?”I drew a breath, leaning more of my weight against the window. “Things are… messy.” My voice lowered. “Regan didn’t sign.”The image of the Del Valle mansion flickered in
Regan's POVMy father’s voice softened, “I still don’t understand why you kept him.”“Of course, I did.” I turned to him, my voice sharper than I intended. “He’s my son in every way that matters. I raised him. I stayed when Zarina didn’t. I held him when he cried at night. I taught him how to ride a bike. I sat beside him through every hospital visit. You think blood matters after that?” I shook my head. “He is your grandson, Dad.”He nodded slowly, regret flashing in his eyes. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”I ran a hand down my face, tired. “I kept waiting for the right moment to tell Anastasia. But seeing her today? I knew I missed my chance.”He sat across from me, rubbing his temples. “You have to prepare yourself, Regan. What if she won’t accept Reid?”I didn’t even hesitate. “She’s not that kind of person. She’s not cruel.”My father hesitated, then sighed. “Maybe you’re right. But Zarina... she’s always made me doubt. Especially when it comes to that boy.” He looked up, his voice la
Regan's POVThe clock on the wall blinked at 2:47 AM. I leaned back in the chair, fingers steepled beneath my chin, a single lamp casting a golden glow across the dark wood of the desk. The documents in front of me blurred for the third time that night. I tried blinking the haze away, but it didn’t help. The numbers were stable. Profits were up. The Del Valle name — once dragged through the mud, spit on by the media, doubted by our own board — now stood higher than ever before. Two years since the scandal. Seven years since she left. And still… nothing about my life felt better.I sighed and tossed the pen aside, its sharp clink on the wood breaking the silence. I pulled my glasses off, rubbed my eyes, then ran a hand through my hair — and paused when I caught sight of the jagged scar across the back of my left hand.My fingers curled slightly, instinctively.The burn stretched up to my wrist. The skin puckered, uneven and ugly.It happened the night the old mansion burned. Everyone t