dn't look like a place

l. Carefully design

d with deliberate friendliness, as if plastic blocks an

or, her arms crossed t

usted her clipboard and smiled too bri

though her st

ren sat o

ng a toy car back and forth in neat, obsessive lines. Elena sat closest to Lina

Mommy?" Elena

her. "Someone who

e kno

N

ered that. "

action of a second too

oor o

le steppe

dark sweater and slacks, the billionaire stripped of his a

immediately to

stoppe

al. The moment three living, breathing con

es-too familiar-flicked to Ad

is car mid-mot

stared

"Children, this is Mr. Adrian. He's go

distance. "Hello," he said, his voic

espo

er head. "You'

nked. "So

ly, then retreat

then the tower fell. He stared

chest t

for them. Didn

hought griml

gestured. "You c

d loosely. He watched as Lina helped Ethan rebuil

with them," h

n," Lina replied wi

ce fo

studying Adrian with sharp curiosi

tiffened

es angry noises

ah a warning

d slowly. "Th

nvited and sat just far enough

al worke

ated, then n

olemnly. "Do

osed he

d. "But I didn't

rugged.

. His gaze lingered on Adrian

nside," Ethan

froze.

own chest. "Boo

her brea

said carefully. "I'l

then nodded once and

cked open in

d slower than

Didn't push conversation. He liste

a crayon, he accepted

draw?" he

. "Something

ew a

ll. With th

d it. "It ne

ded f

a s

ded a

. "It's be

e social worker stood.

idn't l

aved a

tated, the

ou," he said, to Lina. To the

hallway, Lina

ay," she sa

enough," Adr

all yo

ed. "Fo

rned t

" he c

but didn'

redible," he

tightened

r, the visits

vised. Stil

usted faster tha

observations that cut too close to the bone. Noah asked

n cha

Spoke less. Lear

suspicion-and somethin

dren colored, the social w

Lina. "I know yo

e said.

ded. "

ntinued. "That worries m

hy

eful people

aze. "I'm not pl

ly. "You don't get

," he said. "I'm s

Elena tugged Adrian's sl

wn at her. "If y

at Lina wit

lowed. "W

dded, sa

lay awake stari

w normal it

t shattered t

stood near the entrance-e

cked onto t

onto

onto

oman

aid softly. "

tiffened

blood r

s Mo

oed like a w

er leaving the children. "I wonder

children close

er head. "They

as sharp. "You s

oothly. "I just wanted to see

to Lina. "Yo

nd you must be the wo

"Careful. You don't

snapped. "But I lived

thing calculating behind them. "You know," she

een them. "This con

er voice dropping.

oothing her coat. "S

e walke

m felt

hands

he want?" Li

ce was grim

he chi

answer f

all Lin