Chapter 2

Even though Lily and I were twins, our tastes were polar opposites.

I preferred mild flavors. She craved heat.

So when I saw the table loaded with Nashville hot chicken, Cajun seafood boil, and Buffalo wings, I knew this meal had never been made for me.

Grant sat across from me. He hadn't crossed a single line, yet my chest ached so badly I could barely breathe.

"All your favorites. Owen picked the lobsters out himself at the seafood market, one by one."

"My hand got pinched."

Owen held up his finger. "It's okay, Lily. It didn't hurt at all."

I glanced at the small cut on his index finger.

Before, I would've panicked—a tiny scrape like that was enough to bring me to tears.

Now, I looked at it with a detached glance and felt nothing but the echo of my own self-mockery.

Still, I bent down and blew on it gently.

His lips pressed together in a shy smile.

"Lily, Daddy made all this food himself, you know! It took him forever."

My mind went blank for a moment.

Six years of marriage, and I'd never known Grant could cook—let alone cook well.

It didn't matter how late I came home from work; dinner had always been my job. On the rare occasion I was sick, I'd hoped he might make me a simple bowl of broth. But he'd just frown and tell me, irritated, that he didn't know how—then order takeout and call it done.

I'd swallowed the hurt every time, digesting it alone in silence.

Yet here he was, a completely different man for Lily.

I forced the corners of my mouth upward. A hollow smile. That was all I could manage.

Neither of them noticed anything was off. They kept piling food on my plate—all Lily's favorites.

I ate. At least for now, I wasn't ready to make a scene.

Laughter filled the dining table—the kind of warmth I hadn't felt once in six years of living in this house.

Grant brought out the cake. Owen set a birthday hat on my head.

"Make a wish, Lily."

I closed my eyes.

Then let me wish for this: that my ties with this father and son end here and now.

I opened my eyes and blew out the candles.

Grant dabbed a bit of frosting on my face, his expression warm but visibly restrained.

Owen "retaliated" on my behalf.

Father and son dissolved into laughter.

And I just stood there, feeling the December cold of New York seep all the way down to my bones.

I texted Grant from my phone, telling him I was almost home.

The moment he read it, his face fell. A crease of irritation appeared between his brows.

I saw it all.

Owen saw it too. His eyes brimming with tears, he flung his arms around me.

"No, no, Lily, I don't want you to go! Why can't you be my mommy?"

"I want you to be my mommy."

He turned to Grant, eyes red and pleading.

"Daddy, can we make Lily my mommy? Please?"

"Owen, don't say things like that."

Grant's voice was stern, but his face was a picture of quiet anguish.

My heart sank further.

"Owen, your wish is going to come true."

His head snapped up, eyes wide with surprise. "Really?"

Grant went still.

I nodded, not letting a single crack show. "Really. And it won't be long now."

Just like that, the tears stopped. He beamed and clung to me, refusing to let go.

I managed a small smile, then stood and met Grant's gaze. "I should get going. Still have work to take care of."

Owen's face crumpled with reluctance. Grant's emotions stayed carefully contained.

"Okay."

The door closed behind me, and every last ounce of strength I'd been holding together drained out at once.

I couldn't even remember how I made it back to the car.

All I knew was that my heart felt like it had been crumpled and wrung dry—I couldn't breathe.

I sat with my eyes closed, forcing myself to take deep breaths, until I finally felt something close to alive again.

I changed into a fresh set of clothes and stared at the house in the distance. For the first time, I truly dreaded going back.

Then I pulled up the transfer notice my company had sent the day before.

Yesterday, I'd hesitated. I hadn't accepted the overseas assignment.

But now, I let out a single, quiet laugh and tapped Accept.

I'd leave tomorrow.