Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 11 - Chapitre 20

FIONAThe workday dragged.I looked at the clock more times than I could count, willing the minutes to move. Luna sending me to the filing room was a small mercy. At least there, my hands had something to do to distract me.As I sorted through files for the Delaney case, my thoughts slipped where I didn’t want them to.Flavian Navarro.His quiet authority. The way he didn’t have to raise his voice to command a room. The way my pulse betrayed me whenever I felt his attention shift in my direction.Today, CPS would decide if I was a capable mother or a cautionary tale. When this was over, I told myself I would never have to see him again.That should have felt like relief.It didn’t.The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur of paperwork. At four-thirty, I shut down my computer and left. My neighbor had already picked up my son, so I headed straight to her place first.We walked back together, his small hand tucked into mine.Inside, I did a quick sweep of the house. Clean and tidy. M

FLAVIAN’S POVI tried not to stare, but my eyes had a mind of their own, following her as she excused herself from the conference room. Probably the bathroom. No one objected.We wrapped up shortly after. I told them my assistant would follow up. My former lawyers had been a disaster two senior partners pointing fingers at each other. Exactly the kind of circus I didn’t need with this case hanging over my head.Hale’s firm was better. More than that I’d made sure everyone who’d attended the deposition was here today. I needed to see her again.After shaking hands with the lawyers, I left to grab a few documents from my office before heading toward the elevator. The doors were sliding closed when I stopped them.They opened again.Fiona.Our eyes locked for a long beat before she cleared her throat. “Are you going to get in?” Her voice betrayed nothing.I stepped inside.Guilt twisted in my chest, confusion close behind. Did she hate me? She should. And yet the way she looked at me mad

FIONAIt had been a week since I got those unnerving text messages. I had only told my neighbour because she had noticed I was more on edge when it came to Flavian. She brushed it off, saying some kids played pranks like that all the time. Luna’s going-away party was today.I had channelled most of my frustrations and worries this past week into throwing her an amazing party, and the best thing was that she had no idea. The cherry on top was that I wasn’t on a budget. Mr. Hale had instructed his assistant to make sure I had whatever I needed.The party was going to be at a small bar just off the street from the office. I had set everything up already and would be leaving earlier than everyone else to make sure it was all in place.I entered Mr. Hale’s office to let him know what time to get luna to the bar when he informed me that some clients would be at the party.“i thought it would be great to have some clients over,” he said. “Just the bigger accounts.Suddenly my hands felt cl

FIONAI don’t remember climbing the stairs.I just wake up in my bed with a pounding headache and memories of last night crashing back all at once.luna's party.Flavian.Sean.Sean.My eyes fly open.So that wasn’t a nightmare.The clock reads 8:02 a.m. My head feels stuffed with bricks. I force myself into the shower before Desiree drops Flavian off. Hot water helps, but not enough. Coffee will have to do the rest.I’m halfway through my first mug when my phone rings.Unknown number.I answer without thinking.“Hello?”“If it isn’t the party girl.”My stomach flips.Flavian.“Hi,” I say, suddenly more flustered than I was last night.He chuckles softly. “How bad’s the hangover?”“My head feels like I was run over.”“ the best cure is real food. Don’t drown in coffee alone.”“I was going to heat up some leftovers.”There’s a pause — not awkward. Comfortable.“Thanks for last night,” I say. “And for bringing me home.”“I had your car dropped off this morning.”I turn toward the windo

FIONAMy hands are trembling so badly I nearly drop the phone.The video keeps replaying in my head.Flavian walking out of school. That little bounce in his step when he’s excited.Sean was there.Watching him.A cold wave crashes over me.“He knows where flavian goes to school,” I whisper.Flavian goes completely still.And that terrifies me more.“Let me see,” he says quietly.I hand him the phone.He watches the video once.Then again.His expression hardens with every second.By the time it ends, the warmth I’ve come to associate with him is gone.Replaced by something sharp.Dangerous.“Okay,” he says calmly.Okay?“That’s it?” My voice cracks. “That’s not okay!”“No,” he says, meeting my eyes. “It’s not.”His jaw tightens.“But now I know what he’s doing.”The certainty in his voice cuts through my panic.“You’re not scared?” I ask.His gaze darkens.“I’m furious.”The words land like a spark in dry grass.And suddenly, I realize something.Flavian isn’t panicking because he’s