The reception buzzed with warmth and joy, a perfect continuation of the elegant ceremony that had preceded it. The ballroom was cast in soft golden light, the chandeliers glittering like frozen fireworks above a sea of smiling guests. Ivy stood with a flute of sparkling juice in hand, her gaze drifting over the crowd. It felt good to see Van’s family celebrating something beautiful—no schemes, no hidden dangers, just laughter and music.Macy and her new husband were the stars of the evening. They moved from table to table, accepting congratulations, pausing for photos, laughing at old stories. Macy’s gown shimmered as she danced, the soft veil tucked behind her shoulder like a whisper of the ceremony that still clung to her.Van had taken a seat beside Ivy at their family table, the twins on either side of him, giggling as they played with the party favors. His expression was relaxed, eyes softer than Ivy had seen in weeks. For a few brief hours, he wasn’t the CEO navigating legal lan

Back at his company, Van sat at his desk, sunlight streaking through the tall windows of his corner office. The skyline stretched endlessly behind him, but his focus remained on the paperwork in front of him. Legal briefs, financial updates, acquisition reports—he had spent most of the past week getting his affairs back in order after being cleared of the lawsuit. Though he’d been declared innocent, the tension of those weeks still clung to his shoulders. The trial had cast a shadow over his company, but his team had stood strong, and now it was time to prove that Van Everest’s name still meant something. "Mr. Everest?" Naya’s voice came through the intercom. "There's someone here to see you. He says it's urgent." Van didn’t even glance up. "Tell him to schedule an appointment. I’m not available for walk-ins." There was a pause. "He says he’s a representative from Benedict Arlow." That name gave Van pause. He sat back in his chair slowly. "Send him in." Moments later, the door

Van waited until he heard the sound of Lila’s cab crunching down the gravel driveway before he stood. He gave it another minute —just to be sure— then eased open the door to the twins’ room. Chloe and Billy were still sleeping, tangled in each other like they always did when they napped. Chloe’s stuffed bear had slipped onto the rug. He picked it up and tucked it beside her.She looked fine. Normal. As if nothing had happened.And that, he thought grimly, was the problem.He went back downstairs and stood in the middle of the living room, unsure what to do with his hands. His chest was still tight, like the adrenaline hadn’t caught up with the reality yet.She had lied to him about Chloe.That part kept echoing, sharper than the rest. She’d faked a crisis. Used the twins to get him alone. That wasn’t just crossing a line —it was detonating it.Van turned slowly, surveying the living room through a new lens. It wasn’t just a room anymore. It was a place she’d moved freely in. She’d lau

By Tuesday morning, the rhythm of home had settled back into place. Ivy moved through the kitchen barefoot, coffee cup in hand, watching birds flutter at the feeder outside the window. Billy and Chloe were still in their pajamas, building a precarious tower out of wooden blocks on the rug. Van had taken his toolbox out to the shed to fix a loose hinge, his steady footsteps fading across the porch.Everything looked the same.But it didn’t feel the same.She’d woken up with a strange tightness in her chest, the kind that didn’t go away with deep breaths. Maybe it was just leftover anxiety from the wedding and travel. Maybe it was something else.Then came the knock.Three soft taps at the side door, familiar in their rhythm.Ivy opened it, and there was Lila— backlit by the morning sun, cardigan neatly folded over her arm, a tray of lemon bars in hand.“Welcome home,” she said with a cheerful smile. “Thought I’d bring by something sweet.”Ivy blinked. “Hi. I was wondering where you wer

The sun had just begun its descent, casting a golden haze over the mansion’s west-facing windows. Ivy stood at the kitchen sink, rinsing the last of the lunch dishes, while the twins played on the rug near the open patio doors. Billy was stacking puzzle pieces, Chloe babbling instructions like a forewoman on a mission. The house was peaceful. Or it should have been. Lila sat at the kitchen island, nursing a cup of green tea she hadn’t touched in ten minutes. She’d been unusually quiet all afternoon, but not in a shy way. More like a cat watching a mousehole, waiting. “Ivy,” she said suddenly, drawing out the name with a smile. Ivy glanced up, towel in hand. “Hmm?” Lila tilted her head. “How well do you trust Van?” The question landed like a feather— soft, weightless— but Ivy felt it settle too deeply. She blinked. “What?” “Just curious,” Lila said lightly. “You two seem so… solid. I admire that. Really.” Ivy smiled faintly, folding the towel and setting it aside. “We’ve been