I left the office right after the call with Nathan. I couldn't sit still knowing he was waiting at the airport like some entitled king. But the moment I stepped through the front door of the house, all the anger melted away.

Laughter echoed from the garden.

Isabella and Lucian were playing tag. She was wearing those ridiculous swimming goggles, hair wild, cheeks flushed pink from running. Lucian looked absolutely miserable - red-faced, panting, clearly losing.

She spotted me and tried to stop, but momentum carried her straight into my chest. I caught her instinctively, arms wrapping around her waist as she collided with me.

For a second, everything stopped....