All Chapters of After One Reckless Night; A Secret Binds Us: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

The next morning at Bryce’s home…. Edna sat on the edge of little Keira’s bed, carefully tying the laces of her glittery pink sneakers. “Hold still, sweetie. We don’t want one shoe tighter than the other,” she said with a gentle chuckle as Keira dangled her legs, wiggling her toes with delight. “But it tickles when you touch my toes like that.” Keira giggled, bouncing a little. She was already dressed in her neat sky-blue school uniform, her backpack sitting and waiting by the door. “You're too ticklish, that's all,” Edna smiled, smoothing Keira’s soft curls with careful hands. Keira giggled, staring down at Edna. There was a fondness in Edna's gaze, the kind that came not from obligation, but genuine affection. Edna had worked in Bryce’s home for years, seen all kinds of people come in and go. But this little girl was different. Not just because she was her boss's daughter though. The child had a way of warming the quiet halls with her laughter, filling the house

Landon shook his head with a sigh, but then his expression shifted, suddenly remembering something.“By the way,” he said, leaning forward a bit, “Markus told me you moved the creative directors’ meeting to tomorrow. Any reason?”Bryce exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “Yeah. I just needed the morning to breathe. Too much happened last night, and this morning.”Landon gave a small nod. “Understandable.” He paused, then added, “But honestly, they’re itching to pitch that new campaign. I glanced through it last night. It’s strong. Fresh angle, bold messaging. Might be one of the best ideas the team has come up with in months.”Bryce arched a brow. “It's that good?”“It's better,” Landon replied. “You’ll want to hear them out. It might even be perfect for the Paris launch, and the upcoming event. The timing lines up.”Bryce leaned back in his chair, considering it. “Alright. Let’s keep the meeting for tomorrow morning then. First thing. And tell Markus to push the board check-in

Meanwhile…Bryce’s gaze followed Kimberly until she disappeared through the café’s glass door.He couldn’t shake the question clawing at the back of his mind. Why had she bolted the moment Sienna walked in?Did she hear about Sienna and him? Or was she…?“Bryce?” Sienna’s voice cut through his thoughts, pulling his attention back to her. “What are you looking at?”Her eyes flicked toward the direction he’d been staring, but whatever she expected to see wasn’t there.Bryce cleared his throat, his fingers tightening around his fork.“You hardly ever eat here,” he said evenly, though his eyes narrowed just a fraction. “If I remember correctly, you almost hate this place.”Sienna’s smile was perfectly sweet as she set her cup down. “Well… is it such a bad thing if I’ve changed my mind?”“Changed your mind,” Bryce repeated slowly. “Or decided to check on me? Monitor me.”Sienna's painted lips curved another smile. “Is that a crime now? Me checking up on my fiancé? You weren’t in your offi

Meanwhile, back with Kimberly....Heads turned at her outburst, curious shoppers slowing to watch the drama unfold.Kimberly didn’t give a damn about that. Let them stare.She pushed through the sliding doors, the cool evening air slapping her face. Her heart was pounding hard enough to hurt, each beat filled with fury and panic.Ryan’s footsteps followed heavily behind her, not stopping even for a second, making Kimberly wonder if he’d lost his mind in the years they hadn’t seen each other.What the hell was wrong with him? Why was he still following her after she’d made it clear she wanted nothing to do with him?What exactly was his problem right now?“Kimberly, just thirty seconds. That’s all I’m asking,” his voice was closer now, desperate but low, careful not to draw even more attention.Kimberly replied him, but didn’t slow down, not even for a second. “The last time we had thirty seconds together, I lost three years of my life. You’re not getting another one.”That shut him

It was almost 8 p.m. when Bryce finally returned home from dinner at the Moores’.He couldn’t even put into words how he felt, just that it was strange, heavy, yet oddly relieving at the same time. He had finally said out loud what he had been holding back for months, maybe years. The dinner hadn’t gone the way Derek or Sienna had imagined, but for Bryce, letting go of that pretense had lifted something off his chest.Yes, he had made the promise to his dying mother, but what could he do when his heart wasn't keeping to that promise?Sienna would only suffer if they ended up getting married, because she'd never get any love from him. She knew that, but she still wanted him.How clingy could she be? It really was starting to irritate Bryce so much.Heaving a deep sigh, he slid his phone into his pocket, tossed his office keys into the pigeonhole, and draped his jacket across the armrest of the driver's seat before striding further into the house.The warmth of his home instantly wrap