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55 vouchers.

The next day, Mia could hardly breathe. Her nerves were wreaking havoc inside her body, every movement she made felt stiff, unnatural. She could barely think straight.

She had to do this. There was no turning back.

“Are you sure you don’t want me toe with you?” Ethan asked gently, watching her pace around the living room as if her feet couldn’t stay in one ce for too long.

Mia shook her head quickly. “It’s fine,” she said, crouching to tie theces on her white canvas shoes.

Her outfit was simple…blue jeans, a polo, her white sneakers, and a ck face cap.

She looked like any other woman going about her day. And that was the point. This wasn’t a date. She didn’t have to dress up for Alex ckwell. She didn’t care what he thought of her anymore.

At least, that’s what she told herself over and over again, even as her chest ached from the lie.

She adjusted her cap and reached for her bag. “Ethan, please… keep a close eye on him,” she said softly.

She didn’t want him to go to school today after everything that just happened.

Ethan smiled a little. “Of course,” he said. “You don’t even have to ask me.”

Mia nodded. She bit her tongue hard, stopping herself from asking the question that she has been fighting with all morning.

But it slipped out anyway.

“Lily…” Her voice cracked slightly.

She hesitated, her throat tight. Where was she? Did she sleep safely? Was she okay? No matter how much anger Mia carried, Lily was still her sister. And no matter how much she hated what Lily had done, Mia couldn’t ever wish harm on her.

“Did you-” Mia paused, looking at her brother’s face before finishing the question. “Have you heard from Lily?”

Ethan sighed, shifting his weight ufortably. He didn’t want to upset her more, but he couldn’t lie either. “I called herst night,” he admitted. “She’s fine. The ckwells lodged her in a hotel.”

Mia froze, staring at him in disbelief.

Her lips twisted bitterly. “Well, I guess she’s closer to getting what she’s always wanted,” she said, her voice sharp.

Ethan didn’t respond. He didn’t need to. They both knew what she meant.

For some reason it was getting her upset.

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She let out a small, humorlessugh. “Don’t tell me you believe she didn’t do all this just to get close to Alex

ckwell.”

Her brother frowned. “Mia, I don’t think that’s what-”

“Don’t put it past Lily,” Mia cut in, picking up her bag from the couch. Her voice was firm, but there was hurt swimming underneath it. “But whatever it is, I won’t be in her way. She can have him if she wants. Although..” she allowed herself a faint smirk, “I doubt Zoe will make it easy for her.”

For a second, she almostughed at the thought. Then she sighed and nced at her brother again. “They can keep fighting for a man all they want. But me? I’m done. I won’t fight for any man again in this big year of my life.”

Ethan studied her quietly. He had known his sister long enough to recognize when she was lying to herself.

“Even though he’s the father of your child?” he asked carefully.

Mia didn’t flinch. She walked slowly across the room toward where her little boy was ying with his toys on the rug. “Having a kid together doesn’t mean we have to be together,” she said firmly.

Ethan tilted his head, not convinced. “Even though he’s still the love of your life?”

Mia stopped dead in her tracks.

Her back stiffened, her breath caught in her throat. She closed her eyes tightly for a second before forcing herself to open them again.

When she did, Aiden was looking up at her with curious eyes,pletely unaware of the weight of the conversation happening around him.

Mia bent down, hiding the storm in her chest behind a soft smile. She kissed her son’s forehead gently. “I’ll isee /iyouter, baby.”

“Bye, Mama,” Aiden chirped, stretching up on his tiny toes to nt a kiss on her cheek.

Mia smiled, her heart breaking a little at his innocence. She straightened up, turned, and walked back toward her brother.

She stopped in front of him, her gaze steady. “Ethan,” she said quietly, “the only thing I feel for Alex ckwell is theplete opposite of that word you just mentioned.”

Ethan didn’t say a word. He just stared at her, searching her eyes. But she held his gaze without flinching, even though deep down she knew he didn’t believe her.

“See youter, brother,” she said finally, breaking the silence. She turned and walked toward the door, giving her son onest quick nce before stepping out.

By ten o’clock, Alex had already handled what he could at thepany. He called his secretary and canceled the pile of meetings scheduled for today. His mind wasn’t in the right ce for business. Not today.

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He nced at his watch. Unsurprisingly, his mother had already texted him twice, reminding him not to be

Alex sighed heavily, rubbing his hand over his face. Then he grabbed his phone and his jacket, pushing

himself toward the door.

Was he nervous? Like crazy. His chest felt too tight, his stomach twisted in knots. The great Alex ckwell, who could make an entire boardroom full of billionaires cower with one look, was reduced to a nervous wreck at the thought of sitting across from Mia Turner.

He drove himself, gripping the steering wheel too hard, every red light feeling like punishment. His mind raced, his heart thudded faster the closer he got to the restaurant.

When he arrived, he forced himself to breathe. He had already booked one of the VIP rooms….privacy was ba /bmust. They needed the quiet. They needed space away from any prying eyes.

Still, his mind tried to attach meanings to the word “privacy,” and he shook his head, pushing it away.

Inside, he settled into the private lounge, ncing at his watch. He was five minutes early.

He pulled out his phone, scrolling through texts, pretending to respond to a few urgent ones just to keep himself upied. Anything to distract from the storm in his chest.

Meanwhile, Mia stood outside. She contemted turning back, running back to the house and pretending none of this was happening.

Her heart hammered in her chest. Her palms were sweaty.

She stared at the restaurant doors for ten whole minutes, every second filled with arguments in her head. Go in. No, leave. Do this. No, run.

Finally, she sucked in a shaky breath, closed her eyes, and whispered, “You can do this, Mia.”

She walks inside…..the restaurant was elegant, expensive. She looked around, her heart pounding in her ears, Every second screamed at her that it wasn’t toote to run.

“Are you Miss Turner?”

Mia turned to see a young woman smiling politely at her.

“Yes” Mia says, her voice sofi

“Mr. Lowell is waiting for you. This way, ma’am.”

Mis nodded, furcing herself to breathe She followed the woman down the hall, and of course, it led to one of the VIP lounges. She balmost /brolled her eyes. Typical Alex

She thanked the staff quietly, and then the door opened

Inside, Alex looked up from his phone Their eyes mei

“Mia.”

“Alex.”