MasukLydia POVThe drive from the school to my office was thankfully uneventful, which was a luxury I had learned not to take for granted. traffic had a personality of its own, and today, for whatever reason, it had chosen kindness. My playlist hummed softly in the background while I mentally sorted through everything waiting for me. Theo’s company was still at the top of the list. We’d survived the first wave of public outrage, but surviving wasn’t the same thing as rebuilding. Rebuilding required consistency, patience, and a willingness to keep making the right decisions long after the applause faded. It was the part most companies underestimated.By the time I pulled into the underground parking lot of my office building, my work brain had completely taken over. The mother who had been laughing about maple syrup fifteen minutes ago quietly stepped aside, allowing the CEO to clock in.My assistant was already waiting outside my office with a tablet tucked under one arm and two takeaway c
Lydia POVI stayed in my room for another ten minutes after the call ended, and somehow, the conversation still revolved around outer space. Eli had somehow convinced himself that black holes were simply the universe’s version of giant vacuum cleaners, while Ava looked personally offended by that explanation. She launched into another passionate speech about gravity, spacetime, and event horizons, complete with exaggerated hand gestures that made her nearly knock over the glass of water on my bedside table. Eli listened with the expression of someone trying very hard to understand before confidently concluding, “So… it still eats things.” Ava buried her face in a pillow with the kind of dramatic sigh only a seven-year-old could manage, while I laughed so hard my stomach hurt. Some nights, these two exhausted me beyond words. Other nights, I found myself silently wishing time would slow down because I already knew I would miss moments like this someday.Eventually, I ushered them towar
Dave POVBy the time the astronomy session finally came to an end, my eyes had begun protesting against yet another screen.The presenter thanked everyone for attending.Parents waved.Children flooded the chat with excited messages about stars, telescopes and planets.Then, one by one…The little squares began disappearing.Until only ours remained.Ava looked like someone had just been handed the greatest gift imaginable.“I don’t want it to end.”The astronomer laughed warmly.“Don’t worry. We’ll have another one next month.”“I’ll be there.”“I don’t doubt that.”The meeting finally disconnected.For a brief moment…It was just the four of us again.Me.Lydia.Ava.Eli.Ava immediately leaned closer to the screen.“Dad!”“Hm?”“What was your favorite part?”I smiled.“There were quite a few.”She looked delighted.“Tell me!”I leaned back in my chair.“Well… first…”“I loved the infrared images.”Her eyes widened instantly.“The colorful ones?”“Exactly.”“Most people look at spac
Dave POVThe rest of the afternoon disappeared beneath an avalanche of signatures, conference summaries, investor calls, and enough paperwork to make me question every life decision that had led me to becoming a CEO.By the time my final in-person meeting wrapped up, the clock on the wall read 5:38 p.m.Perfect.For once…I wasn’t late.As I stepped into the underground parking garage, my driver was already waiting beside the car.He hurried forward to open the rear door.“Good evening, sir.”“Evening.”I slid into the back seat, immediately setting my briefcase beside me.“Home?”He glanced at me through the rearview mirror.“Yes, sir?”I checked the time again.5:42.“…Actually, let’s head home, but don’t rush. I’ve got a video call in a few minutes.”“Of course.”The city slowly came alive around us as we pulled out of the parking structure.Office workers poured onto sidewalks in neatly pressed suits.Street vendors arranged evening snacks beneath glowing lanterns.Traffic thicken
Dave POVBy the time the meeting entered its third hour, my migraine had evolved from a dull ache behind my eyes into something that felt dangerously close to a personal vendetta.I sat at the head of the polished walnut conference table, one hand resting against a stack of financial reports while the other absentmindedly tapped a fountain pen against my notebook. Around me, fifteen people occupied their respective seats, each representing a different part of the company that had consumed nearly every waking hour of my life for the past several weeks.The atmosphere inside the room had changed dramatically since I returned.A month ago, most of the conversations had revolved around whether I was even capable of leading the company again.Today…The conversations had shifted toward how quickly I could repair what had already been broken.Unfortunately, confidence did not magically erase problems.It simply meant more people expected you to solve them.The massive screen at the far end
Lydia POVBy the time I finally pushed open the door to my office, I could feel every ounce of energy drain out of me.The silence was almost startling after spending the entire morning inside conference rooms filled with executives talking over one another, lawyers quoting policies, investors demanding reassurance, and journalists calling every five minutes.I shut the door behind me, leaned against it for a second, and closed my eyes.Today had been…A lot.Not bad.Not impossible.Just…Heavy.The kind of heavy that settled into your shoulders before slowly working its way into your bones.I loosened the top button of my blouse before walking toward my desk.Almost on cue, there was a soft knock.“Come in.”My assistant peeked her head inside.“I figured you hadn’t eaten.”I looked at the clock.Nearly three in the afternoon.“…You’re right.”She smiled knowingly.“I already guessed.”I laughed.“I hate that you know me this well.”“It’s literally my job.”“Fair.”She stepped fully
Lydia I turned.He was standing a few feet away now, hands in his pockets, his expression unreadable.There was no softness in his face.Just cool detachment.The kind that made the evening breeze feel warmer by comparison.For the first time since he arrived, he looked directly at me and held the
Lydia POVAfter what seems like forever, a black Rolls-Royce pulled into the court compound, I had already imagined three different ways to murder my husband.Future husband.Potential husband.Missing husband.Whatever.At that point, I wasn’t being picky.The sleek black car glided through the ga
Lydia POVOh.That was… unfortunate.Because he was beautiful.In a sharp, expensive, dangerous kind of way.Dark suit.Sharper jaw.Dark eyes that looked almost black under certain lighting.Everything about him looked controlled.I clicked another picture.Still no smile.Another.Same expression
Lydia POV“You’re getting married to Dave Ashton tomorrow by eight a.m.”Those were the words that ended my life as I knew it.One sentence.One Tuesday evening.One announcement delivered with the same emotional weight my father would have used to ask someone to pass the salt.For a moment, I hone







