, the weight of the day seemed to fall away. The familiar scent of lavender, a candle she'd lit earlier, filled the room,

d nerves. She scooped her daughter up, spinning her around as the

theart?" she asked, brushing a

ke her father's-sparkling with mischief. "I

at night, even if it had turned her life upside down. Her daughter had given her purpose, ground

ght struck her: How long could she keep the secret of Amelia's paternity? It was a thoug

f destabilizing Thorne Enterprises. She knew it wouldn't be simple; Lucas was as ruthless as he was inte

, ready to dive into her latest analysis when h

ntment, but he's very insistent." Maya's usually cheerful expression w

asked, her brows

. Lucas

took a deep breath, steadying he

tirred. She was prepared, guarded, every wall in place as he entered, looking every bit the powerful CEO he was known to

s tone was unusually soft, even as his gaze sharpe

he surprise?" She kept her

ed to... apologize," he said, his tone ro

dulous laugh that slipped out. "You think you can just show up

I'm not here to make excuses. I'm here because-" He paused, running a hand through his

ened. But she maintained her composure. "Business is all there is betwe

r of something she couldn't read crossing his face. "I do

der her skin, wouldn't let him break through the barriers she had built so carefully. But just a

earching hers. "Why did you leave without saying a

their night together, when her life had fallen apart. She had left because of t

he replied icily, meeting his gaze without flinching. "And i

e nodded, his shoulders sagging slightly. "Then I guess... I've made my

left, leaving her standing in her office

lear and unshakable, yet he had the uncanny ability to make her question everything. She tried to push the conv

hter. But one thing was certain-Lucas wouldn't stop until he uncovered the truth. And as much a

but by a growing need to protect Amelia. The stakes had shifted. What had begun as a plan to take down Luc

t to lose. Not to L