Talia didn't wait for Ethan to ask how the lunch went.
Because the moment she stepped into the penthouse, still glowing from the verbal takedown, Luna toddled toward her with her tiny arms stretched wide, giggling, "Mamaaa!"
Zane followed, clinging to one of Ethan's pant legs like a determined koala.
"Hey, babies," she breathed, crouching to scoop them up. Her armor dropped the second their warm little bodies wrapped around her. This..this! was what mattered.
Ethan stood nearby, suit jacket off, sleeves rolled up, watching her. "You handled it?"
"Oh, I handled it," she said with a half-smirk, brushing Luna's curls off her face. "You might wanna check if Vanessa's melted into a puddle of irrelevance."
He chuckled under his breath, voice low. "Good."
She gave him a sharp look. "Next time, a little warning before your ex comes sniffing around my Dior, maybe?"
"I didn't know she'd ambush you like that," he said, stepping closer. "But if she tries anything again.."
