Isla I had barely finished logging in when a soft knock at the office door pulled me from my thoughts. “Mommy?” Sophie’s voice floated down the hall, light and cheerful. And behind her, a familiar deep voice, steady, calm and impossible to ignore, answered, “I’m right here, little one.”My stomach twisted, half with relief, half with irritation. Of course he would show up in person, completely unannounced, making the world feel smaller and more complicated than it had twenty seconds ago.When I opened the door, Sophie dashed into my arms, squealing. “Daddy Alex!” He followed a few steps behind, holding a small bag of her favorite snacks, peeking around the doorway with a carefully neutral expression that I immediately knew was a mask.“Hi, Isla,” he said quietly. Not a greeting full of bravado or intimidation, just calm acknowledgment. His gaze softened as it lingered on me, but it didn’t reach the corners of my nerves the way it usually did. He wasn’t trying to control me. Not yet.
Isla's POV I had truly decided to stop fighting everything and let some things take their natural course. It was not blind surrender. I could see, with absolute clarity, how much Alexander cared for me. How much he respected me, even when I pushed him away. For the first time in months, I allowed myself to relax into the reality that he would pursue me on his own terms, patient and persistent, without ever trying to force my hand. It was… unnerving. And yet, strangely comforting.Next morning, after dropping Sophie off at daycare, I had braced myself for the day at Horizon Outreach. The office, usually a calm haven, felt charged with quiet anticipation, though I didn’t understand why. My colleagues greeted me with smiles and the occasional teasing glance, which I ignored, busying myself with emails and reports.It was not until I approached my desk that I noticed the familiar bouquet. Peonies. Soft pink, lush, and fragrant, my favorite flowers. Beside them, a small box of chocolate,
Isla's POV I watched Alexander as he gently adjusted Sophie’s blanket, the faint smile tugging at his lips while she babbled on about the stickers she had used. I should have turned away, focused on the small stack of papers I had left from the morning. But I could not. I could not stop noticing the ease with which he moved, how naturally he seemed to fit into these small, mundane corners of our lives.Sleepy Sophie, reached for a stray crayon, and he leaned over, guiding her hand without taking control. “Try coloring inside the lines here,” he said softly. “See how it helps your shapes?” I swallowed, my throat tight. He was not trying to impress me nor was he showing off. He was simply… present. And it unnerved me.“You know,” I murmured, mostly to myself, “I’ve never seen someone care so quietly, without expecting anything back.” He glanced at me, raising an eyebrow, eyes unreadable. “Is that a compliment or a complaint?” I laughed softly, shaking my head. “Maybe both.”There was a
Isla’s POVAs the morning sun filtered softly through the blinds of my new apartment, Sophie’s gentle breathing filled the room, rhythmic and innocent, a sound I had come to treasure since her birth. I knelt beside her, smoothing the blanket over her shoulders, feeling the warmth of her small body against mine. Even now, she stirred slightly, murmuring something incoherent in her sleep.“Daddy Alex?” I whispered with a half-smile, brushing a lock of hair from her face. The nickname made my chest tighten. Alexander Langston, the man who had entered our lives like a storm, had earned her trust so quickly, so completely. And yet… he was still a stranger in many ways.After breakfast, I bundled Sophie into her little jacket and zipped up her shoes. The daycare run had become routine, yet the thought of Alexander stepping into this part of our lives still made me uneasy. He had not once visited me at work, and I was not sure how I felt about him entering spaces that were solely mine, my pr
Isla’s POVWhen Alexander Langston left, the last plate in my hands felt heavier than it should have. The water ran hot, stinging my skin, but I did not notice. Alexander’s footsteps had faded, the click of the front door leaving the apartment in a sudden, almost unbearable silence.I leaned against the counter, letting the ceramic press into my palms, and tried to force myself to think straight. He had said it. He had really said it. “I don’t care that you’re divorced. I don’t care that you’re a mother… In fact, Sophie is the very reason I can’t walk away. She is part of you, and you are the woman I… the woman I want.”I shut my eyes, trying to replay his words without flinching. My stomach twisted. My chest felt tight. He did not want me to owe him. He was not asking for control. Heck, he was not even making demands. He was… waiting.The thought should have comforted me. It should have made me feel lighter. Instead, it set off a quiet storm inside me. I had spent seven months caref
Alexander’s POVThe night had been long, the silence broken only by the rhythm of rain against the villa windows. I didn’t sleep. I could feel Isla’s anger even from miles away, her determination to cut ties, her refusal to bend under my shadow. For the first time in years, I understood what it felt like to lose control of a situation.I had been called ruthless, cold, unyielding in business. But none of those traits worked on Isla Hart. By the following afternoon, Lia stepped into my office, her expression carefully measured. She had been with me long enough to know when to tread lightly.“Sir, do you have a moment?” she asked, hands folded neatly. I raised my head from the report I hadn’t read in the past ten minutes. “Speak.” “It’s about Isla.” Her name in Lia’s mouth pulled at something deep inside me, something I could not conceal. I gestured for her to continue.“She’s settled in the new apartment. I know you’re furious about it,” Lia said softly. “But Isla doesn’t see your care