ree: Cryin

porcelain cup of tea. Sunlight streamed through the floor to ceiling windows of her office, casting a soft glow over the polished woo

ng like someone

r her shoulders, her posture straight without stiffness. Everything about her spoke of control, o

, dressed far more simply than the room demanded. His presence softened t

eyes shining. "I still c

ow. "I told you I'

ly. "This is the first time you've steppe

"You never ne

er voice gentle but firm. "I've always

curved faint

hed softly. "And now you decide to visi

promised I'd be your driver and

"My star footballer son r

he teased. "Y

admitted. "I

at the door before

" Courtne

sistant, stepped inside holding a tablet. S

photographer, Freya Woods, i

ed almost impercepti

ully. "Alright. Let her

ked once.

eplied calmly. "T

, already turning

slim folder on her desk. The name printed

YA

wing interest. Her brows lifted slightly as she fl

she m

raightene

y any chance," she said casual

her gaze ev

y," she continu

" he

r personally?"

plied smoothly. "But she's

watching him care

n stylist in the school," he said witho

thoughtful. "You

simply. "You shoul

inger lightly against the desk. "Alrigh

u later then. I want to tak

warmly. "Don't

gesture natural and affectionate. At th

," Court

turned. For a brief second, their eyes met. Then he looked away. He didn't greet o

n and walked in fully, taking a seat opposite Courtn

*

d not go as Cour

questions quickly, sometimes too quickly, her confidence spilling into impatience. When C

ivity," Freya said. "I set trends. I d

steadily. "And how do

s useful, I take it. If

her voice. She stumbled over words she normally owned, hands twitching in her lap, he

folding her hands. "LEGACY

ace fell

tinued calmly, "but you're not

er effort to hold them back. She no

and left. The door

ongue in frustration. "Sorry, son," she mut

*

lly spilling freely down her cheeks. The doo

assy, shoulders tense. For a moment, something flickered

itterly. "This

said

ngs about me," she snapped

true," he

u couldn't handle being blocked

aw cl

tinued, voice shaking with anger. "You think you ca

ared stra

re happy," s

stepped out without a word.