yes already scanning the room like she was sizing up threats. Noah followed quieter, thoughtful, his tiny fingers curling around my thumb as if he'd known me forever. I held them

s coming. I shook my head. "It's

rough the door with balloons and a ridiculous stuffed wolf ("For when they get bitey"), took one l

rough tears.

he curve of Ava's ear, the way Noah's brow furrowed in sleep just like... well, like Ethan's used to when he was

l the quiet. My apartment felt smaller with two cribs crammed in, but it was ours. The first night, when they both woke at 3 a.m. hungry and furious, I

eld for abo

han sho

he intercom buzzed. The doorman: "Ms. Voss?

opped. "Tell

ting. Has paperwork. Sa

ore I could think better of it. Better to face the devil

ced to a man who'd clearly been sleeping in his car-or worse. He stepped inside, gaze immediat

autiful," h

the poin

ant to be in their lives. Joint cu

n my shirt, the dark circles, the way my body still ached from labor. "You d

dn't

nt the night I left. Y

ena-she was... a distraction. But I ended it. I ended everythin

roze your assets last week. I read the headlines. You're not here for r

tened. "That

t friend for six months. You lied to my face. You let me think our marriage was real

working. "I love you, E

wasn't ready for. Once, they'd

n't do wha

he one I'd left on the bed-sat inside, cleaned and shining. "I kept it. Every day I loo

Then I laughed-real, sharp laughter

the box from his hand, snapped it shut, and pressed it back into his palm. "Keep it. Pawn it. Use the money for yo

aled. "You

y m

s again, eyes glisteni

l ever get unless you earn more

. The door clicked shut soft

raced. Custody fights. Lawyers. Media. I wasn't just protecting mysel

ails. Voss Designs had landed two new clients-small, but grow

amian

nsity that made the room feel smaller. He'd handed me his card, murmured something a

ail wa

en

n the twins. Moth

round, no strings on creative control. Dinner tomorrow? Ne

mi

ut the funding... God, the funding. My freelance income cover

al forces (rumors), silent partner in half the tech unicorns

The Italian place on Halsted.

in under a minu

dy there, standing when I approached. No suit tonight-dark sweater, sleeves rolled up,

," he said. "T

seat. "Thanks for the congrats. Most p

t most

first: the city, design trends, how Chicago winters

figures. You keep majority stake

my wate

because I like betting on

ause pissing off Ethan

a smile.

I like

flags. Clean. Aggressive but fair.

the awning. Snow had started again

gton comes after you-custody, busines

eyebrow. "

know people." His eyes held mine.

es-too soon, too clichéd. Just... possibilit

d. "Tha

ber, hand brushing m

ch with popcorn, twins asleep

side her. "New investo

inned.

ut

yeah

night feedings. Ethan sent flowers-huge arrangements of white r

ail from my

te on Harring

transfer-two million to an offsho

na V

iden

ly changed her last name six months ago. To Voss. And

od ran

me. My brand. And

g to Mark with one li

called

on the first

resources,"

n, quietly:

was at my door, coat dus

les. He read in sil

uild a competing agency. Using your

es

sh it. Quietly. Legally.

"I want he

low, danger

irst moves, I stood at the window wat

ibs. I went to them, lifted A

But it had given me this: fi

ack in? Serena

get war

, I wasn't fi