e hand resting flat against her still-flat stomach. She'd barely slept, the

gna

e this. Not after betrayal. Not afte

erhood. Each one carried its own storm. But when she imagined her life m

want to era

dn't know h

-

t Day – C

actually reading. Raina was too numb to talk. She filled out the forms in silence

e, and Linda squeezed he

ound was

oss her abdomen. The screen flickered, then

cian murmured. "Heartbeat

back tears, he

as r

-

er – A New C

n a new city-an opportunity that allowed her to quietly relocate and reb

hey unpacked boxes, ordered Thai food, and drank sparkling cider in place of wine. Raina didn't te

that meant building something st

-

ter – First Da

steadying breath as she stepped into the lobby. She wore a navy sheath dress that h

"Mr. Blake is ready for the kickoff

er head-Blake Innovations, a rapidly growing tech company launching a new line of co

to the conference ro

fr

able stood the man s

an s

l suit and a subtle smirk

ront of him read:

and instinctively moved toward

ooked up

nd, something flicke

gnit

ce gave no

said smoothly.

-

their night together. This section deepens the emotional stakes an

-

ted. A man in command of a room full of executives and eager associates. Not the

gid. The air aro

hen, with infuriating ease, he turned

begin,"

se. No stumble. Not

Linda, seated next to her, cast her a confused glance. The meeting went on-strategic goals, campaign v

barely hea

e a tangle of qu

he told her

vanished wi

upposed to work with him n

sed on b

ath at

-

eeting – Em

usting the cuff of his watch like he had all the time in the world. Li

alone, then spoke quietly. "I

"No? I thought CEOs

sed a different last nam

. "And you used a d

ned slightly.

snapped. "You disappeared. No las

u wanted," he said evenly.

ot that

eyes-something colder. "I

now you do. Because whether you like it or not

a long look.

she almost said it

not

like

id, "You should

, heart pounding, pulse sk

o, the expression on

een them had ignited

them could walk

-