(Lila)I bolted upright in bed, instantly alert. Something had woken me from a dead sleep. The digital clock glowed 2:17 AM in the darkness of our bedroom. Nick slept soundly beside me, his arm still draped over the spot where I had been lying.Then I heard it—a soft, distressed whimper from the baby monitor.“Fleur?” I whispered, already sliding out of bed.The whimpering grew stronger, different from her usual middle-of-the-night fussing. My heart rate quickened as I hurried down the hall to the nursery, pushing open the door with shaking hands.Fleur thrashed in her crib, her tiny face flushed an alarming shade of red. When I touched her forehead, I yanked my hand back. She was burning up.“Nick!” I screamed. “Nick, get in here!”I scooped her into my arms, her body radiating heat through her pajamas. Nick appeared seconds later, hair disheveled and eyes wild.“What’s wrong?” he asked, immediately alert.“She’s burning up. Get the thermometer!”Nick rushed to the bathroom while I r
(Lila)Dr. Harker hesitated. “There are some unusual markers in her bloodwork that I’d like our pediatric immunologist to review. It could be nothing, but—”“But it could be something serious,” Nick finished for him. “When will this specialist see her?”“Dr. Parkinson is on her way in now.”I nodded, numb with fear. As Dr. Harker left, I pulled out my phone—a reflexive action when anxiety overwhelmed me. Three missed calls from my father, two texts from Alexander asking for updates.A notification from my banking app caught my eye. I opened it absently, needing the distraction, and froze when I saw the alert.My father had transferred ten million dollars into my personal account with the memo: “For emergencies.” The timestamp showed 1:30 AM—after I’d found those documents but before Fleur got sick.Why would he do that now?“Lila?” Nick’s voice brought me back to the present. “Your phone keeps lighting up. Someone’s trying to reach you.”I quickly closed the banking app. “Just my fath
(Ethan)I drummed my fingers against the polished conference table, glancing at my watch for the third time in five minutes. Jonathan Montgomery was late—unusual for a man who treated punctuality as a virtue and tardiness as a moral failing.I’d chosen this early hour specifically to avoid being seen. The fewer people who knew about our partnership, the better.My phone vibrated. A text from Cara: “James wants to know if you’ll be home for breakfast.”I smiled, typing back: “Meeting running late. Tell him I’ll make it up with pancakes tomorrow.”The door swung open as Jonathan finally strode in, impeccably dressed as always. “Ethan. Sorry for the delay. Board member cornered me in the elevator.”“No problem,” I lied, rising to shake his hand. “I appreciate the discretion of meeting this early.”Jonathan nodded, setting his briefcase on the table. “Discretion is essential at this stage. Especially given the…complications.”“You mean the fact that I’m partnering with my ex’s father to c
(Ethan)My heart dropped. “How serious?”“Serious enough that they’ve been there all night. Alexander just left to meet them. He called me to tell you.”“I’m on my way,” I told Cara, hanging up. “Jonathan, we’ll have to continue this later. Fleur’s in the hospital.”Jonathan’s expression shifted to concern. “What happened?”“Fever, they’re running tests,” I said, already gathering my documents. “I need to go.”“Of course,” Jonathan agreed. “Family first.”I gave him a pointed look at those words, but said nothing, wondering why Alexander had chosen to call Cara instead of telling me directly.I hurried from the room, my mind racing. Despite our arrangement, Fleur was still my biological daughter. The complicated web of family relationships suddenly felt secondary to her wellbeing.The drive to the hospital took twenty minutes—twenty minutes of worrying, imagining worst-case scenarios, and grappling with my complicated feelings. I’d never expected to care this deeply for a child I’d si
(Lila)I gripped Nick’s hand as Dr. Parkinson explained the latest test results.“Juvenile idiopathic inflammatory myopathy,” she said, pointing to highlighted areas on the scan. “It’s a rare autoimmune condition that causes inflammation in the blood vessels that supply the muscles and skin.”“What causes it?” Nick asked.“The exact cause is unknown,” Dr. Parkinson explained. “But there’s often a genetic predisposition triggered by environmental factors—possibly a virus or exposure to certain medications or chemicals.”My mind raced, trying to remember if I’d exposed Fleur to anything unusual. Had I missed something? Failed to protect her somehow?“The treatment,” I cut in, desperate for solutions. “What can we do?”Dr. Parkinson’s expression turned serious. “We have several options, ranging from conservative to more aggressive approaches.”She outlined the standard protocol: high-dose corticosteroids to reduce inflammation, followed by immunosuppressants to prevent the immune system
(Lila)I paced our penthouse living room, clutching the folder of documents I’d hidden from Nick for four days.Fleur was finally home from the hospital, sleeping peacefully in her crib after her first round of conventional treatment. The doctors had stabilized her condition, but the long-term treatment debate still loomed between us.That wasn’t our only problem.Nick entered from Fleur’s nursery, looking exhausted but relieved. “She’s asleep. Temperature’s normal.”“Good,” I said. “Nick, we need to talk.”“About the experimental treatment? I thought we agreed to wait for more—”“Not about that.” I took a deep breath and handed him the folder. “About this.”Nick frowned, opening the folder. I watched his face change as he scanned the contents—confusion giving way to disbelief, then hardening into anger.“What the hell is this?” he demanded dangerously.“My father’s new venture with Ethan,” I admitted. “I found the documents at my parents’ house the night before Fleur got sick.”“Mont
(Nick)I barked orders to my executive team, adrenaline fueling me despite two sleepless nights at the hospital.“Activate the Murphy clause on all Singapore shipments,” I commanded. “Redirect everything through our Malaysian terminals effective immediately.”Connelly, my head of operations, looked alarmed. “Sir, that’s going to bottleneck our entire Southeast Asian distribution chain. The costs alone—”“Will be absorbed,” I finished for him. “This is non-negotiable.”“But the Montgomery-Baldwin venture hasn’t even launched yet,” Lewis argued. “This seems premature—”“They’ve already secured the regulatory approvals,” I cut in. “They’ll be operational within weeks if we don’t act now.”The executive boardroom fell silent as my team exchanged glances. They knew better than to challenge me when I used this tone.“The Malaysian redirect isn’t sustainable long-term,” Harrison finally said. “Our contracts with—”“I’m not looking for sustainability,” I interrupted. “I’m looking for impact.
(Nick)The elevator dinged, announcing Cara and James’s arrival. I pasted on a smile as James bounded into the kitchen, his excitement at seeing Fleur home again momentarily overriding the tension.“She looks better!” James declared, carefully touching Fleur’s cheek. “Is she all fixed now?”“She’s doing much better,” Lila assured him. “But she still needs special medicine to stay healthy.”James nodded seriously, climbing onto a chair to watch Fleur more closely. I noticed then that he was wearing his backpack, despite it being Saturday morning.“What’s with the school gear, buddy?” I asked. “Hot date at the library?”Instead of laughing, James hunched his shoulders. “Cara said I should bring my stuff because I might have to do homework while we visit.”Cara gave me a significant look over James’s head. “James has had a difficult week at school.”“What kind of difficult?” Lila asked, immediately concerned.James stared at his hands. “Nothing.”“James,” Cara prompted gently. “Remember
(Ethan)Nick was already pulling emergency gear from the trunk—flashlights, rain ponchos, a first aid kit. “Call your security team,” he told the driver. “Have them continue monitoring from their position, but tell them we’re approaching on foot from the south ridge.”We set off into the storm-whipped forest, rain soaking through our inadequate protection almost immediately. The beam of my flashlight wavered and danced across the sodden ground as we picked our way along the ridge trail.“Still think this was a good idea?” Nick shouted over the wind after we’d been walking for about twenty minutes.“Better than sitting in that car,” I called back. “We should be getting close to the valley viewpoint. The cabin’s visible from there in daylight.”We pressed on, slipping occasionally on mud-slicked rocks, helping each other across washed-out sections of trail. Despite our business animosity, we coordinated our movements.Two men united by a singular goal.Finally, we reached the viewpoint,
(Ethan)“Is it still in her family?”“Yes, but it’s closed for the season. No one’s been there in months.”Nick was already on his phone, pulling up a map. “Address?”I remembered Grace telling me about it, so I gave him the details, watching as he relayed them to his security team. “Have someone drive by, but don’t approach yet. If he’s there, we don’t want to spook him.”The police arrived, taking statements and photos of James. An Amber Alert was issued despite his voluntary departure—at eleven years old, he was considered at serious risk alone.Hours passed in panic as we did interviews and made phone calls. By evening, the police had confirmed a bus driver remembered James boarding a northbound bus around 1:15 PM. The cabin was looking more and more likely.“We should go,” I told Nick as we huddled in the school conference room. “Now. If he’s headed to the cabin, it’s at least a four-hour trip. He could already be there, alone in the dark.”“Agreed,” Nick said. “My team has a car
(Ethan)I sat at my desk, reviewing the latest filing in our legal battle against Nicholas Baldwin Shipping. Jonathan had outdone himself this time—the injunction was airtight, backed by connections that even Nick’s considerable influence couldn’t easily overcome.Victory should have tasted sweeter. Instead, I felt hollow, Cara’s words echoing in my mind: “Neither of you is willing to be the bigger person.”My phone rang—the school. I answered immediately, expecting another incident with James being bullied about our family’s public drama.“Mr. Baldwin? This is Principal Watkins. I’m calling because James didn’t report to his afternoon classes.”My blood ran cold. “What do you mean? He was there this morning.”“Yes, he attended his morning sessions, but after lunch, he didn’t return to class. His teacher marked him absent, and when we checked, he wasn’t on campus.”“Did you check everywhere? The library, the nurse’s office?”“We’ve conducted a thorough search,” the principal assured m
(Ethan)“Sorry I’m late,” I said. “Work crisis.”“The injunction,” she nodded. “It’s all over the business news.”I followed her inside, noticing the apartment looked different—some of her things had been packed into boxes by the door.“You’re moving?” I asked, heart sinking.“Just organizing,” she said, settling onto the couch. “I needed something to do with all this nervousness.”I sat opposite her, unsure how to begin. “Cara, about what Grace said—”“Let me go first,” she interrupted gently. “I’ve had time to think, and I want to be clear about where I stand.”I nodded, bracing myself.“I love you, Ethan,” she said simply. “I believe you love me too, but I also believe Grace was right—you haven’t fully processed your feelings for Lila.”“I’m trying to,” I assured her.“I know. But trying isn’t the same as succeeding.” Cara folded her hands in her lap. “And here’s the thing—I can’t compete with a ghost. I won’t compete with her.”“You’re not competing—”“Let me finish,” she said fir
(Ethan)I hung up the phone, satisfaction coursing through me. The Singapore Trade Commission had just approved our joint venture’s licensing application—the same application Nick had spent months trying to block.“Good news?” Jonathan asked, entering my office without knocking.“The best,” I confirmed. “We’re cleared for operations. Nicholas Baldwin’s redirect strategy failed.”Jonathan smiled thinly. “Nicholas always underestimates the value of personal relationships. My connections in Singapore go back three decades.”“He’ll retaliate,” I warned. “This isn’t over.”“Let him.” Jonathan settled into the chair opposite my desk. “He’s run out of legal options. Anything more would cross into actionable territory, and Nicholas is too smart for that.”My phone rang with an incoming text from Cara: “Can we talk today? Important.”We hadn’t spoken much since she’d left my home three days ago. Both of us needed space to process Grace’s revelations and their implications for our relationship.
(Lila)I paced the hospital corridor, counting tiles to keep my anxiety at bay. Fleur’s latest treatment had gone well, the doctors reported, but I couldn’t breathe easy. Couldn’t leave. Couldn’t trust anyone else to watch over her.“Mrs. Baldwin?” A nurse approached me. “Your daughter’s vitals are stable. Perhaps you’d like to get some rest? There’s a family lounge with comfortable couches…”“I’m fine here,” I said tersely. “I can see her door from this spot.”The nurse exchanged a glance with her colleague—the same look I’d been getting for days. Concern. Pity. Judgment.Nick appeared from the elevator, carrying a change of clothes and toiletries. “Hey. Brought your things.”“Thanks.” I took the bag without moving from my post.“The doctor called me,” Nick said carefully. “Fleur’s responding excellently to the treatment. Her numbers are improving faster than expected.”“That’s what they say,” I acknowledged. “But we need to be vigilant.”Nick’s hand settled on my shoulder. “Lila, wh
(Ethan)I sat in my car for nearly twenty minutes, unable to join Cara and James where sat eating in a restaurant. Grace’s words still rang in my ears, stripping away the comfortable lies I’d told myself.“The way you still look at Lila…You haven’t fully let go, Ethan.”Was she right? Had I been fooling myself all this time?Cara approached my window, tapping lightly. She’d said the same thing to me the night I’d proposed, and I hadn’t even noticed her leaving the restaurant with James.“Everything okay?” she asked as I rolled down the window. “We’ve been waiting.”“Sorry,” I mumbled. “Got lost in thought.”The drive home was mostly silent, with James occasionally sharing observations about his mother’s changed appearance or demeanor. Cara kept glancing my way, clearly sensing my internal turmoil.When we arrived home, James ran inside to call Lila and tell her about the visit. I lingered in the driveway, dreading the conversation I knew Cara wanted to have.“Are you going to tell me
(Ethan)Grace glanced at Cara gratefully. “Your therapist is very wise.”“She helps me when I have bad dreams about the closet,” James said.I tensed, waiting for Grace’s reaction to this direct reference to her abuse. Her face crumpled momentarily before she regained control.“I am so sorry about the closet, James. Whenever I think about putting you in there, I feel sick with shame. No child should ever be treated that way.”“It was dark,” James said softly. “And I cried for you, but you didn’t come.”A tear escaped down Grace’s cheek. “I know. And I will regret that for the rest of my life.”The conversation continued, James gradually asking more questions about their past—each one like a small knife slicing into Grace. She answered everything honestly, never minimizing her actions or making excuses.After about twenty minutes, Dr. Frey suggested a short break. Grace excused herself while James stayed with us.“You’re doing really well,” Cara told James. “How are you feeling?”“Okay
(Ethan)I gripped the steering wheel tightly as we approached Pine Grove Rehabilitation Center.James sat silently in the backseat, dressed in his nicest clothes as if for a special occasion. Cara rode beside me, her presence both professional and personal support.“Remember what we discussed,” she said quietly. “The first few minutes will set the tone. Stay neutral, watch James’s cues, and be prepared to end the meeting if necessary.”I nodded tensely. We’d spent the week preparing for this moment—consulting other therapists, establishing ground rules, designing a safe environment for the reunion.Still, my stomach twisted with anxiety.“Is Lila coming?” James asked from the backseat.“No, buddy,” I replied. “Just us today.”“Because she doesn’t want me to see Mom?”The perceptiveness of children never ceased to amaze me. “She’s concerned, that’s all, but she respects that this is important to you.”The facility looked more like a resort than a psychiatric center, with trimmed ground