y, suffocating pressure that comes right before a storm breaks. Liana didn't go to the sunroom at 5 AM. Her body was too sore, and her mind was too bu

ting to take her things away. But the house was spotless. The staff had worked through the night to erase every trace of

ture, no cold glares. Just a note left on the

0 AM. Ensure she is dressed appropriat

hand. "Appropriately," she mu

e a maid struggled to brush the knots out of her hair. The girl's

g the brush from the maid. "I've got t

. Liana sat behind Mika and started brushing with a te

her voice cracking. "Hadi said you were in big trou

sending me anywhere, Mika. Your dad and I just have... different

omi

s my

Mika was healthy, but the doctor kept talking about her "stress levels" and her "lack of social engagement." Liana l

r. Liana carried her up to her room, tucked her in, and then found herself sta

ery of the "Ice Architect" was starting to pull at her more than her own desire fo

ed it open, her heart hammering ag

e that didn't feel like a hospital wing. Books lined the walls from floor to ceiling-thick volumes on arch

w skyscraper Adrian was designing. But her eyes were drawn

back to your room.* But she didn't. Sh

ught in her throat. She picked them up, her fingers trembling. They weren't blueprints. They were drawi

ion, and a deep, aching love. And the signature a

ria

years ago-right before Mika was born. As she flipped through them, she found one that was different. It w

ously like the one outside. But Adrian wasn't the man she knew. He was laughing. His head was thrown back, hi

you doin

He wasn't wearing his coat anymore, just his white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up. He looked exha

ng strides. He grabbed her wrist,

e hissed, his voice trembling with a rage that

was open

ond, his expression flickering with a pain so raw it made Liana's own heart break. Then he sho

mall but steady. "I didn't mean to p

er, his chest heaving. He looked like a man who was about to shatter into a million pieces. "You have

at the desk. "Those sketches... they're full of love. You didn't

ife killed her!

hocked that the words had even left his mouth. He turne

usiness or the name. She just wanted to create. And she was so happy when she was pregnant with Mika. But her heart... it wasn't

moved toward him, cautiously, like

rt' and 'joy' are just illusions. They're weaknesses that let the world in so it can hurt you. So I buried it. I buried her

ly placed a hand on his shoulde

out breaking. You're not protecting Mika. You're just making her live in the same dark room you've locked yourse

in seven years of unshed tears. He looked at Liana-really looked at her-and for the first time

is fingers brushed against a stray lock of her ha

ke her when you're a

en them was thick with a tension that was no longer ab

s if he had touched a hot stove. He straightened his shirt, the mask of the Ice

ice flat. "Mika's French tutor will be he

ria

nge my mind about

dded slowly and walked toward the door. But as she

ss. But you can't erase the fact that you still care. That's y

he wound. Now, she just had to figure out how to hea

shadows. The butler looked worried-not for the house, but for

om and found the girl

till mad?"

g. "No, sweetie. I think your daddy is just starting to

s and painted a single, small yellow flower growing out of a crack in