"Thank you," Nora said. "She's spirited."
"The best ones always are." The woman tilted her head. "Are you here for the gala tonight?"
"Yes, actually."
"Wonderful. My son owns the hotel. I'm sure you'll have a lovely time. He puts on quite a show." The woman's smile remained pleasant, but something in her eyes sharpened. "Are you here with family?"
There was a question beneath the question. Nora had become fluent in reading subtext since becoming a single mother.
"Just the two of us," Nora said evenly, meeting the woman's gaze. "My daughter and I."
"How nice." But the woman's tone suggested it was anything but. She returned to her coffee, conversation clearly over.
Nora felt the familiar flush of shame and anger—shame that she hated herself for feeling, anger at a world that still judged single mothers while giving single fathers medals for showing up. She focused on Lily, on wiping sticky syrup from those perfect little fingers, on the simple joy of her daughter's laughter when she made funny faces.
This was why she'd waited. Why she hadn't shown up at Sebastian's office with a baby in her arms, hadn't sent lawyers or demanded anything. Because Lily deserved better than being a scandal, better than being the mistake that trapped a billionaire, better than growing up knowing she was the source of someone's resentment.
Nora had tried to tell him. God, she'd tried. She could still remember those desperate days after the breakup, discovering she was pregnant just 72 hours after Sebastian had ended things. The shock of seeing two pink lines on the test, the way her hands had shaken as she'd called his number only to find herself blocked. She'd tried texting from a friend's phone. Nothing. She'd gone to his office in the city, waited three hours in the lobby until security escorted her out. She'd even written a letter, an actual handwritten letter, and mailed it to his corporate address. Never received a reply.
At some point Nora had realized that Sebastian didn't want to hear from her. Didn't want explanations or closure or anything else she might offer. He'd made his choice, influenced by his mother's clear disapproval, pressured by expectations Nora would never meet.
So she'd made her own choice. She would raise Lily alone, would love her fiercely, would build a good life for them both. And when the time was right, when Lily was old enough that Nora could look Sebastian in the eye without falling apart, she would tell him the truth. Not because he deserved to know, but because Lily deserved to have the option of knowing her father if he proved worthy of that privilege.
"All done, Mama," Lily announced, shoving her plate away with syrup-covered hands.
Nora cleaned her up, collected their things, and headed back to their room to prepare for the day. She'd planned a walk on the beach, maybe visit the old cafe where she used to work. It had new owners now, but the building was the same, and there was something comforting about revisiting the places where she'd been happy, where they'd been happy, together.
As she pushed the elevator button, Lily on her hip, Nora caught sight of herself in the polished brass doors. She looked like what she was: a young mother, slightly overwhelmed, doing her best. Her sweater had a small stain near the collar that she'd missed. Her hair was escaping its bun. She wore minimal makeup because there was never time for more. She was nothing like the Nora who'd captivated Sebastian Hale three years ago. That Nora had been carefree, confident in a way that came from not yet knowing how hard life could be. This Nora had stretch marks and sleepless nights written into her skin, had traded dreams of her own cafe for the reality of managing a busy office job that paid the bills and offered decent insurance.
But this Nora was also stronger, braver, more certain of who she was and what she was capable of.
The elevator doors opened. Nora stepped inside, adjusting Lily on her hip. Tonight at the gala she would see him again. She didn't know if he'd even recognize her, didn't know if he'd care, engaged as he was to someone else. Didn't know if the sight of Lily would mean anything to him at all. But she'd waited two years for this moment, had chosen this hotel, this date with careful intention, because some truths couldn't be delivered through lawyers or letters or angry confrontations. Some truths needed to be spoken face-to-face in the place where their story had begun, with the living proof of their love, however briefly it had burned, right there between them.
As the elevator climbed, Lily started humming that tuneless song she loved, patting Nora's shoulder in rhythm. Nora closed her eyes and tried to steady her breathing. Tonight everything would change tonight. She just hoped they were both ready for it.
Sebastian stood in the hotel's executive office staring at a spreadsheet that might as well have been written in ancient Greek for all the attention he was paying it.
"The projections for Q1 look strong," his regional manager was saying, gesturing at numbers that Sebastian usually analyzed with laser focus. "We're expecting a 15% increase in bookings for the coastal properties, especially with the new marketing campaign."
"Mhm."
"And we're considering adding a petting zoo to the lobby."
Sebastian nodded absently.
"Sir, I just said petting zoo."
That got his attention. Sebastian looked up, finding Marcus Chen, his most trusted regional manager, watching him with barely concealed amusement.
"You haven't heard a word I've said in the last 10 minutes," Marcus observed.
"I heard some of it."
"Want to tell me what's actually on your mind? Because in the five years I've worked for you, I've never seen you this distracted during a business review."
Sebastian leaned back in the leather chair, running a hand through his hair. Marcus was right. He was completely unfocused, his mind stuck in a loop of memories he'd spent two years trying to bury. Walking these hallways felt like moving through a museum of his own past. There was the corner where he'd first kissed Nora, unable to wait another second after walking her back from dinner. The terrace where they'd watched the sunrise after talking all night. The service elevator they'd used to sneak up to his room, laughing like teenagers even though they were fully grown adults.
"Personal matter," Sebastian said finally. "Nothing that affects business."
"Does this personal matter have anything to do with the fact that you look like you're attending a funeral instead of celebrating New Year's Eve at one of your most successful properties?"
Before Sebastian could answer, his phone buzzed. A text from Vanessa: Where are you? I need your opinion on my dress for tonight. The blue or the silver?
He typed back quickly: Either one. You'll look beautiful.
Vanessa: That's not helpful, Sebastian. This is an important event.
Important for whom? he wanted to ask. Instead, he pocketed his phone.
"You should head back to your fiancé," Marcus said not unkindly. "I can handle the rest of the preparations for tonight."
"Yeah." Sebastian stood, buttoning his suit jacket. "Thanks, Marcus."
"Sir, can I give you some completely unsolicited advice?"
"Have I ever been able to stop you?"
Marcus smiled. "Whatever you're running from, it tends to catch up eventually. Might be better to turn around and face it head-on."