en. I threw myself into my work, coding for sixteen hours a day, fueled by cheap co

king champagne glasses at rooftop bars, laughing at exclusive-looking restaurants, posing in front of a shiny new sports car he definitely couldn't afford.

lossy new narrative starring Brittany. I was just a foot

s a part of something again. I thought of Liam and

t they smelled like home. With the plate of warm cookies in my hands, I walked the few blocks back to my old

ing out from behind his legs. She had his serious

smile spreading across his fac

s soft, a little hesitant, the way it was the first time I met him. I was still the damsel,

f the cookies. "For me?" she aske

," I said, smili

houghtful of you, Chloe. This is my daught

a cookie. She took a big bite, ge

ery nice to meet you, Lily. That' s

k figures, one big and one small, hol

she said proudly. "H

s, and I helped her build a lopsided tower out of wooden blocks. She showed me her favorite picture book, and I read

h my dreams of a family with Mark slowly comin

ged on my sleeve. Her face was serious, h

girlfriend?" she asked,

shing. I glanced at Liam, who was watching us from t

I said gently. "I'

ut I want you to be. Mommy doesn' t visit anymo

nesty of a child was more potent tha

in to give me a quick, clumsy hug. "I w

He was still standing in the same spot, his arms crossed over his chest. The

byes to Lily, Liam w

irl," I said, try

idn' t open the door. He just stood there, b

was no accusation in it, just

" I asked, my hear

nwavering. "But now... baking cookies, playing with my daughter... you' re a smart woman. You' re

me. He had seen it

ast few weeks, the anger at Mark, the loneliness, the fear-it all came rus

king. "He took everything. He made me feel worthless. He said

iving the life we were supposed to build together, and he acts like I never even existed. Coming he

bare of all pretenses. I was a woman who was broken, bu

was replaced by a deep, profound empathy. He reached ou

is voice low and firm. "Any man wh

I felt strangely lighter. He had seen the real me, the calculati