Taking Asher out wasn't just an activity. It was a sacred ritual, a heartbeat in the rhythm of my existence. His laughter, his wonder, the way his tiny fingers clutched mine as we wandered through the theme park. It breathed life into me in ways nothing else ever could.

I bought him anything that made his eyes sparkle, anything that could etch joy onto his innocent face. Watched his laughter echo through the air like a melody, and spoiled him with things that barely scratched the surface of what he deserved.

Ah, and his room, I changed every inch of it, crafting a space that mirrored the boundless joy in his little heart. And, of course, he loved it. How could he not? He was mine. My boy. He carried my blood, my name, my everything.

I had planned to leave for L.A after a week. That was the decision. Until my dear brother shattered it with a single phone call this morning. He went on about business as usual, numbers and negotiations, before finally dropping a revelation that made my pulse slow. Vortex Solutions wanted a partnership with Phoenix Prime. A reputable, ambitious company. But that wasn't what made my breath hitch. No, it was the fact that Vortex Solutions was where Eva worked.

Ordinarily, we didn't just hand out partnerships. We tested. We pushed. We made them prove they were worthy of standing alongside us. But if Eva was part of that company, Then there were no questions left to ask. Still, Roman insisted on a trial project. He was unusually invested, more than I had ever seen him before.

And then, he said something. I could have fallen to my knees in gratitude.

He wanted me here. In Manhattan. For six months, to take care of this project and some of the others.

Six months in the same city where my wife and son lived. The universe was handing me a lifeline wrapped in the guise of business, and I wasn't about to waste it. I said yes before the thought had fully formed. There was nothing to consider. Nothing to doubt.

I was already here. All it took was a few calls. A simple matter of relocating a few key people from my company, bringing my secretary along. Rent or buy a place for my office. And just like that-TADA!-my new workplace was ready. The universe had spoken. And this time, I was listening.

I booked a hotel room. Well, one of our hotel. For six months, no hesitation, no escape route. This was it. A decision carved in stone. There was no turning back.

That evening, I picked up Asher from school and told him I was staying for a while. My boy-the only soul in Manhattan who welcomed my existence with open arms-was ecstatic. His joy was pure, untainted by the weight of the past. But Eva... I had no idea how she felt, if she even cared.

Buried in work, my mind preoccupied with deals and negotiations, I hadn't expected my phone to buzz with her name. Eva. For a split second, I assumed it was about Asher, perhaps another request for me to take him out. But when I saw the message, my hands stilled, my breath hitched.

He wanted us to take him out.

Us.

That single word sent a ripple through my chest, unraveling something long buried. Two years. It had been two years since she last used that word us. I didn't know what to feel.

She wanted to take Asher somewhere after work. Evening. Bryant Park would be ideal-tranquil, less crowded, perfect for a quiet family outing. But they'd close at 11pm. Couldn't afford that. I'd book some place which was more private. And then dinner. It felt...right.

The next evening, Throwing on a simple T-shirt and jeans, I grabbed my car keys and drove to Eva's house. The city blurred past me, but my mind remained sharp, tethered to the unspoken weight of the night ahead. By the time I arrived, the clock read 6:30 PM.

I pressed the doorbell.

"The door's open," came her voice from inside.

I twisted the knob and stepped in. Asher was sprawled across the couch, his little limbs stretched in comfort, while Eva moved about in the kitchen.

"Why did you leave the door open?" I asked, walking further inside.

"DADDY!" Asher's leaped from the couch and into my arms.

I settled onto the couch, feeling the warmth of my son as he clung to my T-shirt with tiny fists, as if anchoring me to this moment. My arms wrapped around him instinctively, protectively.

"I wasn't expecting anyone," Eva answered, emerging from the kitchen with a sandwich in hand. "And who else could possibly walk in?"

I frowned, shaking my head slightly. "You're inviting trouble leaving the door open like that. Don't do it again."

Asher, oblivious to the tension threading through the air, reached for the sandwich in her hand and took a bite, his world simple and sweet. For him, this was just another evening. But for me? For us?

This night was a reckoning.

Her eyes flickered toward the window, narrowing slightly. "Why are they here?"

I followed her gaze. My guards. "Ah, safety purposes."

A quiet scoff left her lips as she muttered, "You've never gone anywhere without them since the day I met you." She turned away, disappearing into the kitchen.

A slow grin tugged at my lips as I leaned back on the couch, Asher nestled against me. "So, you remember our first meeting?"

Her voice floated back. "How could I not? That was the day someone insulted my entire existence."

I laughed. "Hey, you're the one who insulted me first, remember?"

"I was just stating facts. Are you denying that you're an introvert?"

"Not with you. Never with you. From the moment I saw you."

The memory resurfaced, vivid and untarnished by time. I still remember that day-our beginning.

She had been walking across the hallway, head held high, shoulders squared, as if she owned the ground beneath her feet. A student had been arguing with her, scolding her over something, but she hadn't flinched. Hadn't shrunk. Instead, she carried on as though the world's judgment meant nothing.

Meanwhile, I had been standing beside Roman, complaining-about people, about socializing, about how exhausting human interaction felt. And then, from nowhere, a voice cut through the air, crisp and unbothered.

"What a baby!"

I had turned, my irritation laced with curiosity, locking eyes with the woman who dared to say that to me. She made me look back at her for the second time.

She had stood there, unwavering, a little hurricane in human form-brown hair, almond-shaped sable eyes filled with quiet defiance, heart-shaped lips pressed together in stubbornness. She had lied to my face that day, yet I had only smiled, enjoying every second of it.

That was the moment. The moment I fell for her.

Seven years had passed since then. Seven long years.

And yet, standing in that kitchen, arguing with me over the past as if no time had passed at all-she was still the same. Not a single thing about her had changed.

We arrived at the private estate on the outskirts of Manhattan-a sprawling nine-acre sanctuary, more of a spacious farm than land, where nature had claimed its throne. Towering trees stood like silent sentinels, their branches whispering secrets to the wind. A pond lay nestled in the heart of it, its waters still, reflecting the quiet glow of the moon. Birds cooed in the distance, and a few gentle creatures roamed freely, unbothered by time or presence.

I had rented the place for the night.

I had insisted on dinner at a restaurant, but Eva had brushed past my suggestion as if it were nothing more than passing air. Instead, she had packed food from home, ignoring my protests entirely. Not that I minded-not really. It had been a long time since I'd tasted her cooking. Too long.

After we stepped inside the estate, Eva found a place beneath a tree and spread a sheet across the soft grass. I set our things down before lowering Asher to the ground. That little storm of mine didn't waste a single second.

"GOOSE!" His excited voice rang through the night as his tiny feet carried him across the grass.

"Don't leave my sight, Ash," Eva called after him, her voice firm but warm.

"Okay, Mommy!" Asher acknowledged the warning but didn't slow his pace, already caught in a chase with the bird.

I sank onto the sheet, stretching out on my back, arms folded behind my head. The glow of distant lights barely reached us, their presence muted, allowing the moon to claim the night. It bathed everything in silver, a quiet radiance that softened the edges of the world.

Eva sat beside me, eyes fixed on Asher.

"Eva," I murmured.

"Shut up."

A chuckle rumbled through my chest. "I just called your name."

"Then don't call my name." Her gaze never wavered from our son, watching him as if she could protect him with just a look.

A smirk tugged at my lips. "Is that so? You don't want me to say your name? Fine then." I let my eyes drift to the sky, the stars indifferent to our push and pull. "That's your friend, right? Freya Brown. The one who looked at me and Roman like she wanted to devour us in your office yesterday."

I didn't turn to see her reaction. I didn't need to.

I already knew.

"The fuck did you just say?"

Her head snapped toward me, eyes ablaze with a glare so sharp it could carve through steel. If looks could kill, I'd be nothing but a pile of ashes scattered in the wind.

I smirked. "What? That blonde woman. She's your friend, right?" I drawled, my tone laced with amusement. God, this was going to be good.

Eva narrowed her eyes. "You saw her?"

My gaze remained fixed on the sky, stars blinking in and out of focus. "Of course." The words rolled off my tongue effortlessly, though I fought hard to keep the laughter from spilling out. The truth was, I had been watching Eva. Her eyes had lingered on me too-subtle, careful, as if she didn't want to be caught. And in that stolen moment, I had noticed the woman named Freya.

I knew Eva's colleagues. I knew everyone who so much as walked into her orbit. Not because I was some obsessive ex-husband...or maybe I was. But because I had ensured her safety even after our marriage crumbled. She had been a Lancaster once, and people could use that-twist it into something dangerous. A woman raising a two-year-old alone could become a target. I couldn't let that happen. Not then. Not now.

Eva glared at me, arms crossed. "You could've talked to her if you saw her."

She was testing me. Adorable.

"I should have," I admitted with an exaggerated sigh, stretching lazily before crossing my legs. "But I had work to do. Missed my chance."

Her tone shifted, sharp like the edge of a blade. "Say that again."

I turned my head slightly, just enough to catch the fire in her expression. "Baby, we're divorced, remember? I'm single now. I have the right to look at other women. Can have any woman I want." I barely concealed my grin, watching her reaction unfold like a storm gathering strength.

Eva scoffed, her lips curling in irritation. "Like someone actually wants your introverted ass."

That was it. I lost it. Laughter erupted from my chest, shaking through me, unrestrained and unapologetic.

Eva.

My Eva.

The woman who had mastered the art of arguing with me, who ignored me like I was nothing but a shadow in her past. And yet, no matter how much she tried to pretend otherwise-she still couldn't stand the thought of me looking at someone else or someone looking my way.

My hand shot out, wrapping around her waist, pulling her flush against me. "I know what I'm capable of, Tigress. It's just I want you. Not the shadows behind you ."

Her glare remained, fierce and unrelenting, but the real surprise? She didn't swat my hand away this time. Had she forgotten?

Whatever, this was my chance.

"I know, Eva." My voice softened as my fingers brushed along her waist. "You left me because of my behavior, not because you stopped loving me. So why are you still trying to hide the truth?"

Her gaze flickered, her walls cracking for the briefest moment before she turned away.

"Eva..." I tugged her gently, urging her back to me. "Look at me."

And she did.

The moment her eyes met mine, I held my breath and let my heart speak. "Come back to me, Eva. I can't live without you, and you know that. I missed you every single day after the divorce. I missed Asher. I missed us. Why can't you see that? I know you still love me, too. Please... come back to me." The words barely rose above a whisper, yet the weight of my words pressed between us, undeniable.

She exhaled shakily, her fingers clenching at her sides. "We were in an unhealthy relationship, Zayne. You're not-"

I cut her off, shaking my head. "I am still like that. You are still like that. But it's love, Eva. There's no right or wrong in this."

Her eyes locked onto mine, emotions swirling in their depths, Then she turned away-this time, toward the pond, where the water rippled beneath the moonlight.

And then-chaos.

Loud, frantic quacking shattered the tension.

"Mommy, look at this! I have a gosling!"

Asher came sprinting toward us, tiny arms clutching a fluffy gosling as its frantic mother and a horde of geese followed, honking in outrage.

I burst into laughter while Eva gasped, bolting to him.

"Ash, no! You do not take others' children!" She gently pried the gosling from his hands, setting it back onto the grass. The tiny creature wasted no time scurrying back to its mother.

She scooped Asher up, carrying him back to the sheet, and plopped him down.

"You should not touch them. They'll bite you, Ash." I said as I watched him lazily

Asher, now straddling my stomach, simply grinned. "Daddy, the gosling was so fluffy!"

I sighed. Not a single word I said registered in that tiny head of his.

We ate dinner right there-simple yet indulgent. Gourmet sandwiches, buttery stuffed croissants, soft-baked cookies, and freshly squeezed lemonade. The food was ridiculously good, each bite melting into warmth and familiarity.

Asher wandered around, exploring every inch of the place, but always within our sight. His laughter echoed under the moonlight, filling the quiet spaces between us.

Eva, however, was more silent than usual.

Because of me?

I couldn't afford that.

"Eva," I called.

"Mm?" she hummed absentmindedly, barely sparing me a glance.

I grinned. "Well... why did your friend look at me like she wanted to...you know?"

Her hand shot out, smacking my side. I groaned dramatically.

"Hey! I just asked a question," I protested. "It's not like I'm interested in her. Why would I want another woman when I have a hot one sitting right in front of me? My wife, no less."

"I'm not your wife," she corrected swiftly.

"Technically, you were. And technically, we could fix that." I leaned closer, my tone light but my intent anything but. "Let's get remarried."

Her head snapped toward me, eyes wide. "You can't be serious for more than five seconds, can you?"

"I am being serious. Just say yes," I said, watching her expression shift. "Or do you want another grand proposal? I'm up for it." I shrugged, unfazed.

She narrowed her eyes, turning away, but I wasn't about to let her escape.

In one swift motion, I grabbed her arm and pulled her flush against me, my other hand locking around her waist. She gasped, momentarily startled before regaining her composure.

"What are you doing, Zayne? Let me go," she protested, struggling in my grip.

I didn't speak. Didn't argue.

I just watched her.

I felt something darker within me. something I refused to name. Then, I pulled her even closer, her body molding against mine, her breath hitching. "Don't resist me," I whispered, my lips hovering just above hers. I felt her breath-warm, shaky, uncertain.

A storm flickered in her eyes-confusion, frustration, longing.

My lips brushed against her. And then, before I could make my move, she did.

Her lips crashed into mine, and for the first time in years, the world around us faded into nothing.

The kiss was fire and fury, a desperate clash of everything we had fought against for years. Her hands fisted in my T-shirt, pulling me closer as if she could mold us into one, as if she could erase the distance we had built between us. I responded just as fiercely, my grip tightening around her waist, anchoring her to me.

She tasted like a forgotten dream, like something I had lost and never expected to find again. My hands skimmed her back, fingers pressing into the curves I knew too well. She shivered, and the sound she made-the quietest of sighs-drove me over the edge.

God, how could I let this go?

I tilted my head, deepening the kiss, claiming her the way I had always wanted to. She didn't stop me. She didn't push me away. She melted into me, surrendering to something we both knew was inevitable.

When we finally broke apart, her breath came in quick, uneven gasps. Her fingers still clutched my shirt like she wasn't ready to let go, like she was terrified of what would happen if she did.

"Tell me you don't feel this," I murmured, my forehead resting against hers. "Tell me you don't want me."

Her silence was the answer I had been waiting for.

Her eyes fluttered open, stormy and unreadable. "Zayne... we can't."

I exhaled sharply, letting my thumb graze her cheek, savoring the warmth of her skin. "Then tell me to stop."

She didn't.

She never did.

My lips found hers again, a desperate, unspoken need tightening in my chest. I pushed her back against the soft sheet spread over the grass, the earth beneath us grounding the fire igniting between us. My body hovered over hers, a breath away, the space between us vanishing like a fleeting whisper.

Her hands found their way around my neck, fingers threading through my hair as she pulled me closer-closer until there was no room left for hesitation, no air left between us, only the heat of something inevitable.

Her lips parted, surrendering to me, and I took, claimed, devoured. Every ounce of restraint I had clung to shattered the moment she arched beneath me, pressing herself against my body like she could carve her presence into my soul.

Her fingers tugged at my hair, nails scraping against my scalp. I groaned against her lips, the weight of years apart crashing into me all at once.

Her scent-vanilla and something undeniably her-wrapped around me, pulling me deeper, making me forget every reason I had to let her go.

She was warmth and fire, soft gasps and desperate sighs, the kind of temptation I could never resist. My hand slid down, tracing the curve of her waist, feeling the rapid rise and fall of her breath beneath my touch. She trembled, but she didn't pull away. No, she held on. Eva whimpered into my mouth, the soft sound unraveling me.

The night air cool against our burning skin. The distant hum of crickets and rustling leaves faded into nothing, drowned by the sound of our desperate, ragged breaths.

"Eva..." I breathed, my lips brushing over hers as I whispered her name like a prayer, like a curse.

Her eyes fluttered open, dazed and lost, her fingers tightening in my hair, her lips swollen from my kiss. "Zayne..." It was barely a whisper, yet it carried every ounce of uncertainty and longing tangled in this moment.

"This is reckless," she murmured, though she didn't pull away.

I kissed the words off her lips. "We're reckless, Eva."

It was reckless.

But It was inevitable.

And I was never letting her go again.

"Mommy, What are you two doing?"