She got up slowly, moving through her usual morning routine with deliberate care. She made ginger tea, toasted bread with a thin spread of avocado, and sat at the small kitchen counter eating in silence. The diamond ring on her finger caught the light whenever she lifted her mug, a beautiful, tangible reminder. She smiled at it softly, telling herself this was her life now. Stable. Loved. Chosen. The kiss with Martin had been a momentary lapse, amplified by pregnancy hormones and the shock of seeing him again. Nothing that needed to define her day or her future.
Caleb arrived mid-morning with fresh flowers and a quiet smile, letting himself in with the key she had given him weeks ago. He looked handsome in a casual button-down and dark jeans, his presence filling the apartment with the same steady warmth it always did. Fiona met him at the door, rising onto her toes to kiss his cheek, forcing a brightness into her voice that she hoped sounded natural.
