The next morning dawned brighter than Bella's heart felt. She hadn't slept well; her mind had circled endlessly around Chloe's words, Rachel's quiet insistence, and Timothy's innocent declaration about finally having a daddy.
The weight of it pressed heavy on her chest as she dressed for work, tugging her blouse straight before checking the mirror one last time. No amount of powder could fully hide the shadows under her eyes.
She and Chloe dropped Timothy off at school and Rachel at the Camden's mansion before heading over to StoneTech.
When she arrived at StoneTech, the familiar hum of the office should have grounded her. Instead, each step toward Jake's office sharpened the unease coiled in her stomach. She set her bag down at her desk, preparing to go for coffee like always, only to stop short.
One cup already sat there, still steaming, the faint aroma of caramel wafting upward. Bella blinked.
