All Chapters of The Algorithm of Her Heart: Chapter 61 - Chapter 70

The first night after Vivian moved out, Lily slept through until morning without waking once. No nightmares. No anxiety. Just peaceful, uninterrupted sleep.Marcus checked on her before he went to bed, expecting to find her restless or upset after the day's events. Instead, she was curled up with her favorite stuffed animal, breathing deeply and evenly, completely relaxed.He stood in her doorway for a moment, realizing he hadn't seen his daughter sleep this peacefully in months.Over the following days, Marcus noticed more changes. Lily smiled more easily. She laughed at jokes during dinner instead of staying quiet and watchful. She left her bedroom door open instead of keeping it closed like she had been doing.She stopped checking over her shoulder constantly, stopped the nervous habit of listening for footsteps, stopped the careful monitoring of moods that children do when they live with unpredictable adults.The transformation was gradual but unmistakable. Lily was becoming herse

Elena picked Lily up from Marcus's house on Sunday evening, the day after her date with Dominic. She was still floating from the perfect night at the observatory, replaying moments in her mind."How was your weekend with Daddy?" Elena asked as Lily buckled her seatbelt."Good. We made pancakes for breakfast and went to the science museum." Lily settled in with her backpack. "Daddy asked if you had fun on your date."Elena's hands tightened slightly on the steering wheel. "He asked about that?""Yeah. I told him you went out with Dom." Lily said it casually, like it was no big deal. "He got quiet after that."Elena wasn't sure what to say. She and Marcus had a cordial co-parenting relationship now, but discussing her dating life felt strange.They drove home in comfortable silence. After dinner, while Lily was doing her homework at the kitchen table, she looked up at Elena with a thoughtful expression."Mommy, can I ask you something?""Of course, sweetheart. Anything." Elena set down

Elena sat in Dominic's office three days after Victor's will was read. The check from Victor's estate sat on the desk between them. Ten million dollars made out to Elena Cordova."What are you thinking?" Dominic asked, watching her stare at the check."I'm thinking that Victor gave me this money because he felt guilty. Because he knew what he did was unforgivable and this was his way of trying to make amends." Elena picked up the check. "But money doesn't erase what he did to me.""No. It doesn't." Dominic leaned back in his chair. "So what do you want to do with it?""I want to build something good from something terrible. I want to take his guilt and turn it into protection for others." Elena set down the check and pulled out her laptop. "I've been thinking about this constantly since the will reading."She opened a document she had been working on. "The Cordova Foundation for Gifted Students. Not the Ashford Foundation. Not the Victor Ashford Memorial Foundation. The Cordova Founda

Dominic had the ring for six months. It sat in his home safe, a custom design he had commissioned from a jewelry designer he trusted. The band was platinum etched with mathematical patterns, specifically the algorithms Elena had become famous for analyzing. Inside was engraved a simple equation: the probability of love.He took it out occasionally, looking at it, imagining the moment he would ask Elena to marry him. But each time, he put it back in the safe.The timing wasn't right yet.Elena was thriving. Her business was exploding with success. Her confidence had grown exponentially. She was finally becoming the person she was always meant to be, unrestricted and undiminished.Dominic didn't want to rush her into another commitment before she was ready. She needed time to heal completely, to stand fully on her own, to know with absolute certainty that marriage was something she wanted, not something she felt pressured into.So he waited. And while he waited, he showed his love throu

Elena was in her office reviewing a client proposal when her assistant buzzed her line."Ms. Cordova, there's a journalist on the phone. Robert Chen from Financial Investigator Magazine. He says it's urgent and about a serious matter."Elena frowned. She hadn't scheduled any press interviews. "Did he say what it's regarding?""He mentioned insider trading allegations. He wants your comment before they publish." Her assistant's voice was concerned.Elena's stomach dropped. "Put him through."A moment later, a man's voice came on the line. "Ms. Cordova, thank you for taking my call. I'm Robert Chen, senior investigative reporter for Financial Investigator Magazine.""What is this about, Mr. Chen?" Elena kept her voice professional despite her racing heart."I'm working on a story about potential securities violations related to your position on the Ashford Luxury Developments board. I wanted to give you an opportunity to respond before we publish."Elena's hands gripped the phone tighte