The second labor came on faster than the first, catching everyone slightly off guard despite the months of preparation. Gianna woke at three in the morning with contractions already close together, and by the time they’d dropped Eleanor at Antonia’s—half-asleep and confused but thrilled at the prospect of a sleepover with her grandmother—the drive to the hospital felt considerably more urgent than the leisurely eighteen minutes Julian remembered from years earlier.“This one’s in a hurry,” Gianna managed between breaths, gripping the door handle as Julian navigated the empty predawn streets.“Takes after you,” Julian said, only half joking, his own nerves barely masked beneath forced calm.They made it to the hospital with what the nurses cheerfully informed them was remarkably good timing, and within four hours—considerably faster than Eleanor’s marathon labor—the room filled once again with that same unmistakable sound, thin and furious and entirely alive.“It’s a boy,” the doctor a

The legal proceedings against Marcus and Sebastian moved faster than anyone anticipated, the recorded extortion attempt providing prosecutors with more than enough to pursue charges without the drawn-out uncertainty of a purely circumstantial case. Within six weeks, both men had accepted plea agreements rather than risk trial—Sebastian receiving probation given his more limited role, Marcus facing a suspended sentence contingent on restitution and an extended period of supervised release.Julian read the final settlement notice at his desk on a quiet Friday afternoon, something conclusive settling into his chest as he closed the file for what he hoped was the last time."That's it, then," he said, when Gianna appeared in his doorway. "Officially closed.""Officially closed," she confirmed, crossing the room to read over his shoulder. "No appeals, no further contact clauses violated. It's actually over."Julian leaned back, letting the reality of it settle fully. "I keep waiting for th