Margaret sat on the veranda with her legs crossed neatly at the ankles, a porcelain cup resting between her palms. The tea had cooled slightly, but she didn’t mind. She liked holding it more than drinking it, the warmth gave her something to focus on. Victoria lounged nearby, feet tucked under her on the outdoor couch, phone in hand. She scrolled lazily, stopping now and then to smile at something on her screen. Every few seconds, she glanced up, as if to reassure herself that nothing had changed.Margaret hummed under her breath. A tune she’d hummed for years and Victoria noticed it, the way she always did.“You’ve been humming that song since morning,” Victoria said without looking up.Margaret smiled faintly. “It helps me think.”Victoria snorted. “You hum when you’re worried.”Margaret took a careful sip of her tea. “I’m not worried.”“You are,” Victoria said lightly. “You just don’t like admitting it.”Margaret’s eyes shifted to the gate. “The gardener should have been here an h

Emma was still at her desk when the office door opened again.She hadn’t gone back to the document she’d been reading earlier. The screen was still on, lines of text untouched, the cursor blinking patiently like it expected her to return at any moment but she hadn’t. Her hands rested flat on the desk, fingers relaxed but unmoving.“Come in,” Emma said.Mia stepped inside and closed the door behind her immediately but she didn’t have her usual smile and that alone told Emma everything.Mia stood there for a second, breathing hard, like she’d walked fast or argued with someone on the way. Her eyes scanned Emma’s face first, then the room, as if she expected Ethan to still be there, hiding behind the chairs or the shelves. “Are you okay?” Mia asked.Emma leaned back slightly. “I’m fine.”Mia frowned. “I just got back, and everyone is already talking.”Emma lifted an eyebrow. “Talking about what?”Mia walked closer, dropping her bag on the visitor’s chair without sitting. “About Ethan. I

Emma and Victoria got home before Liam. She dropped her keys in the bowl by the door and stood there for a moment, catching her breath. She walked slowly to the living room and sat on the couch, resting her hand on her stomach without thinking. The baby kicked lightly, or maybe it was just her imagination. She smiled anyway. “Easy,” she whispered. “I’m here.”She stayed like that for a while, shoes still on, mind drifting between thoughts she didn’t want and feelings she couldn’t name. The mall replayed in bits, Victoria’s laughter, the soft weight of baby clothes in her hands and the man’s face she still couldn’t place. She shook it off.Later, she changed into something loose and comfortable and went upstairs to the nursery. The room wasn’t finished yet, but the crib had arrived. It sat in the center like a promise waiting to be assembled.She knelt and opened the box. By the time Liam came home, the house smelled faintly of lemon cleaner and something warm from the kitchen. He loo

Emma had long since drifted off to sleep, her breathing even and calm, the small rise and fall of her stomach reminding Liam of just how fragile and precious everything had become. The soft glow of the bedside lamp was the only light in the room, he lingered by the doorway for a moment, watching her sleep. He brushed a stray lock of hair from her forehead and kissed it lightly, murmuring, “I’ll keep everything under control.”She shifted slightly in her sleep, murmuring something unintelligible, and Liam took it as his cue. Quietly, he slipped from the room, careful not to disturb the household, moving toward the garage. The night outside was dark and quiet, but he felt the tension in his chest. He had called in his sources hours ago, running a complete background check on Thomas, Harper’s long-time gardener. By now, Liam had the address, verified, confirmed, and ready.He drove in near silence, the black sedan blending in the night. Each block brought him closer, and with each step

Liam returned home long after the city had settled. The house was quiet, the lights along the driveway glowed softly, and for a moment he stayed in the car with the engine off, his hands resting on the steering wheel.Veridia never comes back without a reason. The thought sat heavy in his chest.He stepped out of the car and walked in, nodding at security without slowing. Inside, the house smelled faintly of lavender and something sweet, Emma’s perfume, probably. It was a small thing, but it hit him harder than he expected.He climbed the stairs quietly, each step careful. When he pushed open the bedroom door, the lamp beside the bed was off, but moonlight slipped through the curtains. Emma was asleep on her side, one hand resting on her stomach, the other curled near her face.Liam stood there longer than necessary.She looked peaceful. Her breathing was slow and even, the kind that came only when sleep was deep and unguarded. He could wake her, he almost did. The words pressed again