MasukLydia POVI rolled my eyes the second Theo settled into the chair across from my desk.“So…” I said. “To what do I owe this surprise visit?”He leaned back comfortably.“I saw you yesterday.”I frowned.“Yesterday?”“At the parking garage.”I opened my mouth to respond.He lifted a finger.“Wait.”I sighed dramatically.“Fine.”He smiled.“Let me finish.”I gestured for him to continue.“You overheard part of my phone conversation yesterday.”I instinctively opened my mouth to apologize.Again, he stopped me.“No, that’s not why I’m here.”I blinked.He rested both elbows on the armrests.“The reason I’m here is because I also saw what happened after that.”Now he had my attention.“You heard enough to realize I was talking about a custody battle.”I nodded slightly.“I did.”“But then…” He smiled faintly. “…you got into your car.”I looked confused.“You didn’t stand there pretending to look for your keys.”“You didn’t suddenly decide the parking lot scenery was fascinating.”“You di
Lydia POV“Mom.”I sighed.“What is it?”She folded her arms.“Why did Dad say not to ignore his messages?”I blinked.Then laughed.“Because your father enjoys causing trouble.”“Mom.”“I’m serious.”Ava continued staring at me.I raised both hands dramatically.“I haven’t ignored anything. Every message he’s sent regarding you two has been answered.”“Really?”“Really.”Ava’s expression softened.“Oh.”Then she immediately looked guilty.“I wasn’t accusing you.”“You sounded like you were.”“I wasn’t.”I pulled her into a side hug.“My sweet baby, I thought you were trying to blame me.”She immediately buried her face against my shoulder.“Never.”Then she looked up.“You’re my favorite parent.”Eli gasped from across the room.“What?!”Ava ignored him.“You’re my favorite parent in the whole world.”I laughed.“Let’s not start this emotional nonsense.”“No, seriously.”She pointed at me.“You stayed.”My smile faded slightly.Ava continued.“You didn’t have to. But you stayed.”Bef
Lydia povI glanced between them.Then smiled.“Actually, that’s what I came to talk about.”Both children immediately became attentive.Even Ava.I leaned back against the headboard.“So, you both know it’s been a two days now.”They nodded.“And we talked about figuring out a virtual schedule with your dad.”Another nod.“This is basically going to be similar to what you used to do before.”Eli tilted his head.“Except virtual?”“Exactly.”He seemed satisfied by that answer.“That’s not bad.”I noticed Ava giving a small side-eye from the corner of my vision.Immediately I pointed at her.“What was that look?”Her eyes widened.“What look?”“The look you just gave.”Ava sighed.“It wasn’t a look.”“It was definitely a look.”She hesitated.Then shrugged.“I don’t know.”I studied her carefully.She looked away.“I’m just in my feelings, I guess.”The honesty surprised me.I reached over and squeezed her hand.“Whatever feelings you’re having, you can talk to me.”Her expression soft
Lydia POVI slipped into my car and closed the door behind me.Honestly, I’d already overheard more than I should have.The last thing I wanted was to stand around eavesdropping on a private conversation. Whatever was happening between Theo, his lawyer, his ex, or the courts was his business, not mine.So I pushed the thought aside.At least I tried to.As the car pulled out of the parking lot, one of Drake’s newer songs started playing through the speakers. Normally, music helped clear my head after a long workday.Today, though, my mind kept drifting back to the parking lot.Theo had a child.That alone wasn’t surprising.Plenty of people had children.What surprised me was the custody battle.For some reason, he didn’t fit the image I had unconsciously built of him.He always seemed so composed.So confident.So annoyingly smooth.The type of man who walked into a room already knowing exactly how things would go.Yet the man I’d overheard sounded worried.Scared, even.And that did
Lydia POVBy the time I got back to the office, the excitement from the proposal had mostly died down.Mostly.A few balloons were still floating around various corners of the office, and every now and then I would catch employees whispering excitedly before bursting into laughter.The atmosphere felt lighter than usual.Warmer.I had barely settled into my chair when there was a knock on my office door.My assistant peeked inside.The moment our eyes met, she practically beamed.“Lydia, thank you so much for today. It means a lot. Thank youuu.”I looked up from my laptop.She placed a hand dramatically over her chest.“I wish I could hug you right now.”I slowly raised an eyebrow and gave her one of my deadliest stares.The one that had reduced grown men to nervous stuttering during negotiations.“Don’t overstep now.”For a second, she froze.Then I smiled.Immediately, she laughed.“There she is.”She pointed at me.“I knew there was a heart somewhere inside all that intimidation.”
Lydia POVThe next morning started with a strong cup of ginger and chamomile tea.I stood by the kitchen island, one hand wrapped around the warm mug while the early morning sunlight filtered through the windows. The house was still relatively quiet, and for a few precious minutes, nobody needed anything from me.No emails.No meetings.No children debating whether dinosaurs would make good race-car drivers.Just me and my tea.I took another sip and mentally reviewed my schedule for the day.It was packed.Ironically, the thing I was looking forward to most wasn’t a business meeting.It was my assistant’s proposal.The thought immediately brought a smile to my face.Her boyfriend was persistent. I’d give him that.The previous weekend, he’d somehow managed to corner me in a grocery store while I was trying to buy vegetables.I had been comparing two brands of pasta sauce when a nervous-looking man appeared beside my shopping cart.“Ms. Lydia?”I remembered turning to look at him.“Ye
Lydia POV2 days after the dinner, Marcus texted me early.Not too early. Just… right.Good morning. Are you okay?I stared at the message for a few seconds before replying.I’m cool.Then I added,I don’t even have the luxury of dwelling on that damned Dave. He doesn’t deserve any of my thoughts.
Dave POVApparently, being in Country Z does not pause real life.I still had responsibilities. Titles. Expectations.So when my assistant sent me a message that I was one of the panel speakers at a business summit, I just stared at my phone for a few seconds.I didn’t even remember agreeing to it.
Lydia POVThe entire week flew by.No warning.No pause.Just work, kids, meetings, thoughts I kept pushing to the side.And before I knew it, it was Saturday.I had already told the kids about dinner.Big mistake.Eli had been asking since Wednesday what time Marcus would come.Ava didn’t ask.But
Lydia POV A formal strategy session That’s what it was called But it felt like something else entirely Controlled Tight Precise I walked into the room first as always My team followed files ready screens set everyone in position I didn’t look at him immediately I knew he was there I







