Page 128 of A Sinful Gravity

She twisted her head left and right, searching for that man. "Weird. Cassian went to work really early today."

My nose stung. I crouched down and kissed her forehead. "I saw them yesterday. You were beautiful, like a little princess."

Laila giggled. "Next time, let's go together!"

My heart constricted. I said nothing, just held Laila tight.

"Sweetie. Aunt Chloe will come stay with you. After breakfast, be good and stay home."

"What about Mommy?" Laila tilted her head. "Are you going to see Cassian?"

"I have some grown-up things to handle." My voice grew softer. "Laila, do you want me to go see Cassian?"

"Yeah." She nodded matter-of-factly. "Because when Mommy looks at Cassian, you're always smiling. Much happier than in London."

My nose stung. "Do you really like Cassian, Laila?"

Laila's eyes lit up. "Of course! Yesterday I even told Cassian I hoped he could be my temporary daddy." She hesitated, then added quietly, "But it would be even better if he were my real daddy."

I didn't know how to respond. I just held her gently, not wanting her to see my reddening eyes.

I felt cold all over, and Laila in my arms was the only warmth I could feel.

Late autumn in Washington.Maple leaves covered the streets. The sky began drizzling. Fine and dense. Hitting the windshield, everything looked gray and blurred.

I gripped the steering wheel, but my mind played a long, chaotic movie.

Six years ago, he stood in the doorway saying, "You'll always be my wife," but his eyes were full of cold indifference. Six years later, he knelt on the floor braiding Laila's hair, his gaze tender.

The way he stood in the rain saying "I won't give up" overlapped with the way he shielded me from my mother.

And those nights when he held me in the bathtub, painting beautiful futures, his voice still in my ear.

Every scene crystal clear. Clear as if carved into my brain.

I wondered—what if I hadn't heard those words that rainy night? What if I'd told him about Laila sooner?

But life has no what-ifs. Only consequences.

All those sad, sweet, desperate fragments dissolved into the rapidly retreating shadows outside my window.

Goodbye, Cassian.

The rain grew heavier. I slowed down, turned the wipers to maximum.

The light turned green. I pressed the gas. The car slowly crossed the intersection.

I parked in the agreed-upon block. That pizza place sat at the corner, its neon sign flickering with nostalgic light.

I killed the engine and sat in the driver's seat for a long time, until I'd pressed my lipstick nearly pale, before finally opening the door.

I grabbed an umbrella, but raindrops still hit me. Cold. Freezing. I ducked my head and quickened my pace toward the restaurant entrance.

When I was still a dozen meters from the door, a sharp, piercing screech of metal scraping pavement suddenly shattered the silence.

I instinctively turned. A black SUV appeared in my vision, accelerating wildly.

It was completely out of control, like a blinded beast, jumping the barrier and charging straight at the sidewalk where I stood. No slowing down. No swerving.