Serena’s POV“Mommy, it’s Saturday,” Annika murmured, her small fingers wrapping around the hem of my beige trench coat as I reached for my keys on the foyer console. “Do you really have to go to work? You promised we could bake the lemon squares today.”I paused, looking down at her wide, trusting eyes. The faint scent of her strawberry shampoo drifted up, and a familiar pang of guilt twisted tightly in my chest.“I know, sweet girl,” I said, lowering myself so we were eye level. I tucked a loose curl behind her ear. “I’m breaking a promise I shouldn’t be breaking.”Her expression softened, not quite understanding, but accepting anyway.“It’s an urgent review. I’ll be back before you know it. And when I return, we’ll turn the kitchen into a disaster zone. Flour everywhere.”A small smile finally broke through.“Let your mother go, pumpkin,” Dominic’s voice broke in as he strolled out of the kitchen, holding a mug of coffee. He offered me a warm, remarkably bright smile. “Normally, I
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