Todos os capítulos de Too Late, Mr. Cross: Capítulo 11 - Capítulo 20

*Elena's POV*The morning sunlight spilled quietly across the dining table, painting warm streaks over the untouched cup of tea in front of me. I had wrapped both hands around the ceramic mug almost ten minutes ago, yet it had long since stopped giving off any warmth.Michael was already dressed for work, though he hadn't picked up his briefcase.Instead, he stood by the kitchen counter, watching me with the kind of patience that never demanded explanations."You've barely eaten."I looked down at the slice of toast on my plate. One corner had broken off where I had absentmindedly pinched it apart, but I couldn't remember putting it into my mouth."The doctor said I should eat.""He also said stress isn't good for you."A tired smile touched my lips. "I suppose I'm failing both instructions."He walked over and pulled out the chair opposite mine before sitting down."You don't have to solve everything all at once.""I know.""You keep saying that.""Because it's true."His fingers res

*Damian's POV* The divorce decree arrived at exactly twelve minutes past noon. Martin had always possessed impeccable timing. Even after representing Cross Group for nearly fifteen years, he still entered every room with the quiet confidence of a man who understood that some documents carried more weight than others. Today, the leather folder tucked beneath his arm held the official end of my marriage. He placed it on my desk without saying a word, and I opened it. The signatures stared back at me from the final page. Mine, Elena's, and the court's seal. "It has been registered," Martin said after giving me enough time to read every page myself. "The marriage has been legally dissolved as of this morning." I closed the folder and rested my palm on it for a moment. It surprised me how ordinary it looked. Five years reduced to several sheets of paper. Martin pulled out a chair opposite my desk and sat down without waiting for permission. He had known my father long before he

*Damian's POV* I slid my phone into my pocket before looking across the table at Rosalie. The candles between us continued to burn with quiet indifference, their reflections trembling against untouched wineglasses. Around us, conversations flowed as though nothing had happened. Only my evening had changed. "I'm sorry," I said, reaching for my jacket. "I'll have to take you home another time." Rosalie stood immediately. "You don't have to apologize." "I do." "No." She offered a reassuring smile, although I caught the flicker of concern that crossed her face before she smoothed it away. "If Cross Group needs you, then that's where you belong." I placed enough cash on the table to cover dinner before turning toward the exit. She caught up with me before we reached the elevator. "Damian." I stopped. "I know you're already thinking about the company." "I am." "Then let me ask you something." I waited. "When was the last time Ethan interrupted you during dinner?" I frowned.

*Elena's POV* Morning sunlight spilled across the dining table, warming the untouched cup of tea beside me. I had made it almost an hour ago. By now it had gone lukewarm, but I hadn't noticed until I wrapped both hands around the mug and found no comfort in it. Outside, the city had already begun another ordinary day. Cars drifted through the streets below the apartment building. Someone laughed somewhere in the courtyard. A child chased a bright red ball across the pavement while his mother called after him, her voice carried upward by the breeze slipping through the slightly opened balcony door. Life had continued. It had continued after I signed the divorce papers. It had continued after I buried the dream of raising a family inside Cross Mansion. It had even continued after the doctor warned me that every tear, every sleepless night, and every crushing wave of grief threatened the tiny heartbeat growing beneath my own. The world had never paused to ask whether I was re

*Damian's POV*The room stayed quiet after I finished speaking, but it was no longer the kind of silence I was used to commanding. Usually, when I gave an order during a board meeting, people either agreed immediately or challenged me with numbers strong enough to justify the interruption. Tonight, nobody did either. They simply looked at one another. It was subtle enough that someone unfamiliar with them might have missed it, but I had worked with most of the people around this table for years. I knew the difference between a glance that meant uncertainty and one that meant disagreement. What passed between them now carried both. Ethan gathered the reports in front of him and aligned their edges against the table with unnecessary care before speaking. “I think we have enough direction for tonight. We’ll begin implementing the emergency measures first thing in the morning.” The operations director pushed back his chair but did not stand immediately. “Are we still proceeding wi