All Chapters of His Ex Mistress, His Enemy: Chapter 111 - Chapter 120

I didn’t know if the universe was comforting me or screwing with me, but for the first time in… what, four years? I’d actually slept. Deeply. No dreams. No nightmares sneaking in through half-conscious thoughts about utility bills or nine-digit divorce settlements.Just warmth.Warmth that wrapped around my neck, pressed against my chest, weighed down half my body.I cracked my eyes open.Seven a.m. Sunlight slipped through the curtains, drawing faint stripes across the wall.And between the tangled sheets and pillows scattered god knows where, there was a small head with messy black hair and questionable morning breath resting right under my jaw.Ash.His mouth hung slightly open. One tiny arm was slung across me like I was his personal human plushie. His breathing was slow, steady, peaceful..and hey, at least he hadn’t ripped one in his sleep like he’d threatened last night.But what really made me forget how to breathe for two whole seconds was the little foot sticking out to the o

I opened my office door and walked in without turning on the lights. Morning sunlight from the window was enough. But before I could drop into my chair and curse everyone in my life, footsteps followed behind me.Zane.Of course he came in uninvited. Quiet. Disrespectful of privacy as a concept."You’ve got ten seconds before I throw a stapler hole punch at your face."He closed the door behind him. "So I still have nine to compliment you."I dropped my bag on the desk. "You handled the media?""I did.""As in handled handled, or made it worse but with style?"He perched on the edge of my desk like always, turning a piece of high-end furniture into a prop from a cheap mafia film. "Romano Enterprises’ PR released a statement to every outlet this morning. A very boring version. We denied everything, called the photos old, and said you were an independent mediator."I squinted. "Mediator? That’s worse than lawyer. At least lawyer sounds competent. Mediator sounds like an aunt from a book

The notification tone sliced through the air. Incoming call. AMELIA.I stared at the screen for a few seconds, debating whether to let it go to voicemail. But if I didn’t pick up now, she’d call Sophia next. Then HQ. Then probably CNN.I hit accept.“ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?!”Ah. Polite as always.“I’m in the middle of—”“You think this is funny, Dianna? Parading around with Zane, playing happy family, when you’re MY LAWYER?!”I pinched the bridge of my nose.“This isn’t part of the contract, you know?” she went on, voice climbing. “You’re supposed to be on my side! At least pretend you’re not sleeping under the same roof as my soon-to-be ex-husband in public!”“First of all,” I muttered, “I’m in the bedroom. He’s on the couch.”Zane glanced up from the sofa, one eyebrow lifted, looking way too amused for someone causing international drama.“He swore yesterday,” I continued calmly, “no paparazzi. Said all routes were clear. Turns out one of the damn baristas at that brunch place—”

My tea had gone cold, but I drank it anyway. My tongue didn’t complain. My body was too busy counting how many times my blood pressure had spiked since morning.In the kitchen, Maritza was holding Ash’s shoe, scrubbing it with baby soap. “Spaghetti picked the most expensive pair,” she grumbled, lifting the white sneaker toward the light. The inside glowed with a yellowish disaster. “Apparently the litter box isn’t a worthy institution.”I raised my cup and took another sip.From the hallway came the clatter of Legos. Then laughter. “I’m a dinosaur!”“You’re not a dinosaur, sweetheart. You’re... a three-headed cat hungry for power.”“That’s cooler!”Zane. His voice came from Ash’s room. Easy. Warm. And for some reason, something inside me softened, too warm for this season.A notification lit up on my phone. One message from Sophia. Only three words, but enough to make me want to pour the tea over my own head.‘Oh shit, Di.’My breath caught. I swiped the screen. Another message popped

Zane POVTiny, hurried footsteps announced the arrival of two forces of chaos no less dangerous than Zoe.“Ay, mi corazón!” The voice came before I saw her. Mama.She swept in from the south hallway, linen dress fluttering like she’d just stepped out of a high-end telenovela. Her hair was pinned up, full of volume, like she’d been waiting all morning for a shampoo-commercial moment. Her arms opened wide, eyes sparkling when she spotted Ash.“Mi niño hermoso!”Ash didn’t stand a chance. He was hugged, kissed, hugged again, then gently shaken like a living snow globe.“I... I think I’m out of air,” he whispered from inside the hold.“Oh, you’re getting so big! So handsome! Look at those cheeks—ay, I could fry them with love!”I bit back a grin.Behind me, Zach pretended to gag. “He’s still a kid, Ma. Don’t make him your next cooking experiment.”“I made churros and pancakes and huevos rancheros this morning! You want them all?” Mama cupped Ash’s face between her hands, her smile wide en