Chapter 321
Chapter 321
Kaia held her teacup, enjoying a rare moment of relaxation that was abruptly shattered by the uninvited man.
Finnian’s arrival immediately stiffened the atmosphere. The lively chatter died down, leaving only the clinking of silverware.
Kaia took slow sips of her tea, occasionally placing food on her daughter’s plate and murmuring to the people beside her. Finnian ate methodically, dividing his attention between his meal and Brynlee.
Across the table, Silas observed the dynamic, his mind racing. He had noticed the guarded, territorial gleam in his cousin’s eyes-a clear sign of jealousy. Yet Kaia refused to even look in Finnian’s direction. It all proved that Silas’s theory about their impending divorce was spot on.
Silas felt a secret thrill of satisfaction. Once you threw away a diamond, picking it back up wasn’t going to be easy.
By nine o’clock, the dinner was winding down. Brynlee was rubbing her eyes, so Kaia prepared to leave.
“I apologize, but we need to head out. Brynlee is exhausted,” Kaia announced.
A chorus of goodbyes echoed around the table.
“Take care, Dr. Chavez.”
“Drive safe and get some rest!”
Kaia nodded, accepting their warm wishes, and carried her daughter out the door. Finnian stood up right on cue, exchanging brief pleasantries before striding out of the private dining room.
He caught up to Kaia in the hallway. “Let me carry Brynlee. You look tired.” Kaia dodged his outstretched arms, her tone indifferent. “I’m fine. I haven’t
Chapter 321
seen her in days, and I just want to hold her.”
Finnian froze for a second, dropping his hands.
Once they reached the car, Kaia strapped Brynlee into her car seat. The little girl rubbed her eyes and asked, “Mom, aren’t we taking Dad home with us?”
Finnian looked intently at Kaia.
“He has other things to do,” Kaia said flatly. “We’re going home first.”
Finnian remained silent.
Brynlee peered at him. “Dad, it’s so late. What else do you have to do?”
Finnian cleared his throat and offered a smooth lie. “I have a business meeting to attend. You go home with your mom and be a good girl.”
“Are you going to sleep at the apartment tonight?” Brynlee’s voice suddenly cracked with unexpected emotion. “I haven’t been with both of you in so long. Please come back and sleep there tonight.”
Kaia was caught off guard. Even Finnian didn’t know what to say.
Afraid her daughter would sense the tension, Kaia finally looked up at him. “You can come over.”
୮
Finnian’s expression shifted, a subtle easing of his features. “Alright. I’ll be there later.”
Around nine-thirty, Kaia gave Brynlee a bath and tucked her into bed, reading from a storybook Jane had helped her pick out at the library. It was a tale about a little princess climbing a mountain with her parents, overcoming obstacles together, and finally watching a magnificent sunrise from the peak.
For some reason, reading about such an idyllic family left Kaia with a heavy, suffocating sense of guilt.
Brynlee looked up, swinging her little legs, her eyes shining. “Mom, is Dad
Chapter 321
really coming? Can we all sleep in the same bed?”
Kaia’s finger paused on the edge of the page. She kept her voice casual. “Why do you want him to sleep here?”
“Because sleeping together as a family is the best thing ever,” Brynlee blinked innocently.
Looking into those pure, bright eyes, Kaia felt a tight squeeze in her chest. In a normal, loving family, parents talked through their problems, children felt safe, and they weathered every storm together. But their reality was entirely different.
Unable to hold her daughter’s hopeful gaze, Kaia managed a soft laugh. “Why don’t you call him and ask? He might be on his way.”
“Okay! I’ll call him.” Brynlee tapped her smartwatch.
Kaia turned her face away, staring out into the dark night sky.
The call connected, and Brynlee’s sweet voice filled the room. “Dad, are you here yet? It’s getting so late.”
“I’m downstairs, sweetheart. Can you open the door for me?” Finnian’s gentle voice came through the speaker.
Brynlee scrambled out of bed, shoving her feet into her slippers, and ran to the door. Just as she pulled it open, Finnian stepped out of the
elevator.
“Dad, did you take a shower?” Brynlee noticed he was wearing fresh clothes and his hair was still damp.
Finnian nodded. “Yeah, I went home to grab some things and took a quick
shower.”
“You shouldn’t shower at the big house anymore. Just shower at Mom’s place!” Brynlee had no idea about the real reason behind his actions.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Kaia listened to their exchange. Layla
Chapter 321
came out of her room to greet him, asking if he was hungry, but Finnian just told her to get some rest.
Holding onto Einnian’s finger, Brynlee led him into the master bedroom. Finnian’s eyes immediately locked onto Kaia.
Unlike her sharp, professional demeanor during the day, she looked incredibly soft and inviting in her silk nightgown, her dark hair falling loosely over her shoulders. Her skin possessed a luminous, radiant quality-a healthy, flushed glow that came from impeccable self-care. She looked so effortlessly stunning that it sent Finnian’s mind spiraling back to fragments of memories from a year ago.
He knew he was crossing a line, his thoughts drifting into dangerous territory.
“Stay with Brynlee until she falls asleep. I have some work to finish in the study,” Kaia said, rising from the bed and walking out of the room.
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.

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