Bonus chapter 1

The house was calm, filled with a quiet energy as Erica and Julian stood side by side, watching Olivia head off for her first day at school. The silence, though strange, brought a rare sense of freedom.

After a few moments, Julian wrapped his arm around her shoulders and whispered, “I missed you. The you that didn’t have to juggle a million things all at once.”

Erica glanced up, a smile softening her expression. “Well, you might be stuck with that version of me for a while,” she teased, her fingers brushing his hand on her shoulder. “But today…today, it’s just us.”

Without missing a beat, Julian led her to the kitchen, where he’d already set out coffee and breakfast. They ate in a comfortable silence, just enjoying each other’s presence, laughing over their daughter’s antics and sharing stories that seemed so distant yet so close.

When breakfast was done, Julian leaned across the counter, his gaze warm and steady. “How about we take the day off, make a little escape?” His voice was lo