Chapter 428
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Chapter 428:
Aaden immediately began shoveling pancakes into his mouth. He paused, picked up his fork, and carefully transferred the largest, crispiest piece of bacon from his plate onto Carmen’s.
Carmen stared at the bacon. Her throat tightened. She picked up her fork and forced herself to take a bite, entirely to honor the child’s gesture.
Justin took a slow sip of his black coffee and set the mug down.
“How are things at the hotel, Carmen?” Justin asked casually. “Jocelyn mentioned you were handling the new European acquisitions p>
Carmen set her fork down. The light faded from her eyes.
“I’m taking a leave of absence,” she said, her voice flat and hollow. “I have some personal matters to attend to. I need to be alone for a while p>
T𝘩𝗈𝘶ѕаn𝖽𝘀 𝘰𝖿 𝘳e𝗮𝘥е𝘳s о𝗇
Justin’s eyes darkened. Alone. That was the one word he absolutely refused to accept. If she retreated into that apartment, she would drown in her grief, and his hold on her would slip.
He sighed heavily, rubbing the bridge of his nose, projecting the image of a stressed, overwhelmed single father.
“I understand,” Justin said softly. He glanced at Aaden, then back to Carmen. “Actually, I have a serious problem next week. Aaden’s school requires a parent to be present for the final assembly of the science fair. But the Senate Judiciary Committee just moved my hearing up. I cannot be in New York p>
He leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table, his intense hazel eyes locking onto hers.
“I know you need time,” Justin said, his voice carrying just the right amount of vulnerability. “But you fixed his code in ten seconds. Would you consider going to the school with him? Just as a professional guide p>
Aaden dropped his fork. He looked at Carmen with enormous, glistening eyes.
“Please, Auntie Carmen?” Aaden whispered, his lower lip trembling slightly. “All the other kids are going to have their moms there to help them. I don’t want to be alone p>
The word mom cut straight through Carmen’s chest like a blade.
The gaping, bleeding wound left by her grief screamed for something to hold onto. The compensation was instantaneous and overwhelming. She looked at Aaden’s small, sad face, and her logic evaporated entirely.
“Okay,” Carmen said, her voice trembling. “Okay, Aaden. I’ll go with you p>
Aaden cheered and threw both hands in the air.
Justin lifted his coffee mug to his lips, hiding the dark, victorious smirk pulling at the corners of his mouth.
The trap had snapped shut. She was locked in.
The morning sun poured through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows of the Long Island estate’s master suite.
Jocelyn woke up tangled in a sea of ruined, expensive silk sheets. Her entire body ached with a deep, satisfying soreness. Her muscles were heavy and completely spent, but her chest was filled with a profound, absolute sense of security.
She rolled over.
Gaston was already awake, fully dressed in a crisp white linen shirt and dark trousers, sitting in the velvet armchair by the window. His dark, obsessive eyes were fixed intently on her face, watching her sleep.