r seat, her face puffy and tear-streaked. My own emotions were a frozen block of fur

nd Lily when he finally walked in. He looked exhau

go," he said, block

ok at him.

d yesterday... it was inexcusab

m my hands, setting them on the bed. He guided

ce raw. "I hurt you, and I hurt

ed by their shared past, and his default reaction was to placate her. He admitted that speaking French with he

aight in the eye. "I'm asking for one more chance to prove

performance? Or was this the real Mark, finally waking up to what he was about to lose? Lily

barely a whisper. "But Mark,

rk at six o't clock every evening. He put his phone on silent during dinner. He didn't just a

for hours, patiently trying to learn how to draw, his clumsy attempts at sketching our dog making Li

trip, just the three of us. It was something I had wanted to

y. As I started to unpack the tent, struggling wi

all smile. "I watched a doz

ly by the lake, watching her skip stones across the quiet water. Mark came and sat beside us, putting h

he fire, a figure emerged from the neighboring

iendly smile on her face. "Mark! Fancy

stood up, positioning himself be

e but firm. "This is a private famil

er smile faltering. "Oh.

ing no room for argument. "But we're trying t

w stick as if nothing had happened. He didn't look at her again. Scarlett stood

l it almost made me dizzy. He had chosen us.

e me a small, reassuring

d, so only I could hear.

of the dying fire. I felt a flicker of hope ignite in the darkness of my heart. Maybe he had meant it. Maybe we cou

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