Negotiations over the Vitalus deal stretched into two long weeks of cold, Damian-less mornings. Each day, Chloe reached for the spot next to her, only to find it empty, the absence more disheartening as the days wore on.

But today, she was finally going home.

"Was that Damian, darling?" Ida asked, tucking a loose tendril of gray hair behind her ear. She stood by the window of their suite, watching her daughter end a phone call.

"No, just Lisa checking in," Chloe replied, placing the cell phone in her pocket. She smoothed her loose maternity top over her expanding girth. "I told her I was fine."

Ida shifted her hip, placing a manicured hand on it. "You're a master at saying you're fine even when you're not."

Chloe sighed and sank onto the plush sofa, surrounded by half-packed suitcases and folded clothes. She glanced toward the door. "Where's Dad?"

"Out for a walk. So, tell me," Ida said, sitting beside her. "What's really going on?"

Chloe swallowed hard, tears brimming at the edges of her vision. She placed a hand on her mother's, her voice small. "I'm just tired. It could be the pregnancy."

"Or maybe it's the stress of being a Scott." Ida tilted her head.

"I'm still a Carter," Chloe muttered.

"And a Zhou. Don't forget that," Ida added with a small smile. "Is it about meeting your birth father?"

"No, he's great," Chloe said, tightening her loose braid. She missed her husband's braiding technique—a sensual and caring act of love after sex. "I'm worried about Damian. He's been in London too long, and Gemma's been in the news again."

Ida's face hardened. "Still dragging up dirt?"

"Blabbing about how Damian's the cheating type."

"Are you worried he's having an affair?"

"No. I don't trust words shooting out of a loose cannon with missing screws."

Ida pursed her lips, the wrinkles around her mouth prominent like prunes. "You're strong, seeking what's right and correcting wrongs. But what you did a few months ago? There are more diplomatic ways than barging into someone's home."

"I had to set Gemma straight. She's obsessed with my husband," Chloe refuted.

Ida shook her head. "Sweetie, listen here. You cannot take the batshit out of crazy."

Chloe shifted to her left side and placed her elbow on the sofa's edge. "Damian nearly married her."

Ida let out an exasperated sigh. "His mother blackmailed him into it. I never met her, but she sure raised hell, causing you misery. Damian's a solid man, stronger than his father ever was."

Chloe's nose wrinkled as her delicate mouth twitched. "Sometimes I wonder if Alistair respects me. He disagrees with me on everything just for the sake of it."

Ida folded her arms. "Alistair's tough, but he likes you. Maybe he's afraid of strong women. Vera's had to whip him into shape a few times. Your dad and I aren't perfect, either. Do you recall what happened at Damian's thirtieth birthday party?"

"Oh, God!" Chloe snorted, laughing loudly. "Dad thought black tie meant him turning up with his thin black tie and a leather jacket. He looked like a washed-out rockstar among society's elite."

Ida chuckled. "And who gave him a new tuxedo?"

"Alistair," Chloe admitted, a small smile on her lips. "Yeah, he and Dad are golf buddies now."

Ida gave Chloe a reassuring pat on the knee."Actions speak louder than words, and Alistair cares for you. Speaking of bonding, what's your plan with Mina?"

"Elizabeth wants to adopt her, and she's determined to gain full custody from her mother. Mina loves the ranch and all the animals there. Plus, with my pregnancy health issues..."

"Sounds smart," Ida said. "Now, we should get packing. You must be eager to get home and see Damian again. It's a pity he couldn't meet you here first."

"Change of plans because of his work," Chloe responded, biting her lip.

But what she didn't admit was how much she missed him. The way his hands claimed her, his lips devouring hers. A pool of heat rushed through her core at the thought of how they'd spend hours tangled between the sheets on lazy Sunday mornings.

She yearned to remove his tie and peel off his work shirt while kissing his stubbled jawline. She missed rubbing his muscled shoulders before moving further south, listening to him suck in his breath and moan.

The phone buzzed in her pocket against her upper thigh, breaking the moment. She glanced at the screen—Damian—and swiped to answer.

***

"You look worn out," Chloe remarked, noticing the shadows under Damian's tired eyes.

"I'm fine. Just working around the clock," he answered.

His tie was gone, the top buttons of his shirt undone, revealing the defined muscle beneath. He glanced at her but didn't fully meet her gaze—his attention somewhere else, still tethered to the deal he'd been closing.

"When are you coming home?"

His fingers tapped once on the desk before he shifted, leaning back in his chair. The London skyline stretched behind him, sharp and clear, but Damian dominated the space, always in command. Even through a screen, Chloe felt the power he held in the office.

"Tomorrow night," he said, finally. "Everything's handled. Just need to wrap up a few things here."

Chloe leaned back, crossing one leg over the other. "You sure? It seems like you've been pulling all-nighters."

Damian's mouth twitched, just barely. "You know how it is."

"Is there anyone who can take charge now that you've done the heavy lifting with the renegotiations?" Chloe questioned.

Damian paused, rolling his broad shoulders before leaning forward. "Vera's been here with me. We finalized most of the revised terms. She's returned to Lester Harbor to prep for the next phase. I'm flying home tomorrow night. Doctor Meier said you're good to travel today, right?"

"Yeah. I'll be on the afternoon flight to Lester Harbor. Everything's healing, and the baby's doing well."

"Perfect." Damian's gaze softened as he leaned back. "We'll have some time together, just us, before we visit Mina at my grandparents' place this weekend. She loves it there and doesn't want to leave them."

Chloe rubbed her thighs as if preparing to announce the news. "The case officer visited the ranch on Monday and said Mina can stay there."

He nodded. "That's my grandmother's influence. She's stubborn when she wants things her way, but her heart's in the right place. Mina deserves to be with them."

"Your family has a willpower of iron. That's for sure," Chloe said before her voice shifted into a more curious tone. "Speaking of making changes, did heads roll at the office?"

Damian's jaw tightened. "We let go of Daniel Lim, Quinn Tech's regional director for the UK. He was stubborn like oak and couldn't bend like the willow, causing the London office to blunder with this contract."

Chloe raised an eyebrow. "Did you find a replacement?"

"Yeah. Ximena Salazar. You remember her from the last leukemia fundraiser social, right? She made 'cleaning house' easy."

"Oh." Chloe's smile faltered.

Her eyes drifted from the phone's screen as memories of the fundraiser event surfaced. All curves and confident with fox-like green-brown eyes, Ximena knew how to hold attention. Chloe remembered how Ximena stared at Damian's muscular physique a little too long.

What Chloe overheard Ximena say to a friend echoed in her mind: "Damian will be a great CEO one day. Single or not, I plan to hook up with him. He's sexy as hell—I bet he's incredible in bed."

Chloe trusted Damian, but Ximena? She was calculating. Ambitious. A close working relationship could become a dangerous game.

"Babe, you still there?" Damian's voice pulled her back.

"Yeah, I'm here," she replied, returning to their conversation.

"What's up?" His eyes narrowed on the screen.

Chloe hesitated for a moment, feeling foolish for even thinking it. But she wasn't the type to ignore her gut. "Dami, be careful with Ximena. She's... ambitious."

Damian's laugh was low, almost dismissive. "Ximena? Babe, she's not my type. I would've transferred her from London to HQ by now if I wanted her close. You know how I operate—strictly business."

"Okay, you're right." Chloe nodded, though something in her remained cautious.

She knew who she married—a man who was the perfect mix of seduction, sex, and power. Women would always want him. It wasn't about Damian's loyalty—she did not doubt that. But she didn't trust Ximena. Not even a little.

Damian seemed to sense her unease, his voice softening. "Look, let's talk about something else. How are your parents? Still enjoying Zurich?"

"They are," Chloe said, welcoming the shift in conversation. "Thanks to you. My dad's finally able to relax. You've taken such good care of us—paid off their debts, the house. It's like a weight's been lifted."

"Your parents work hard. They deserve to breathe." Damian leaned back in his chair, and his features softened for the first time in the call. The tension seemed to drain from his posture.

"Mom and I had a blast shopping for maternity clothes. I've officially lost my waistline." Chloe laughed, easing the tension between them.

Damian's smile widened. "How's our baby?"

"Doctor Meier said the baby is fully formed with distinctive fingerprints. She—or he—can hear sounds now, like my voice."

"That's incredible." Damian's voice dropped almost to a whisper. "I wish I could be with you."

As if on cue, a subtle flutter stirred inside her, a sensation so soft and fleeting that Chloe gasped, her hand flying to her belly.

"What is it?" Damian's eyes sharpened, concerned.

"I felt the baby move," she whispered, awe filling her voice. "Just now."

Damian's jaw slackened, disbelief crossing his face. "Already? At sixteen weeks?"

She nodded, blinking back tears. "Yeah. Our baby's ambitious, like you."

"And you," he murmured. "God, I wish I could hold you."

Chloe grinned from ear to ear, her heart swelling at their connection. "I miss you too. It's amazing, this feeling, this life inside me."

"You give me hope, Chloe."

Chloe glanced up as her mother appeared in the doorway, signaling room service had arrived. She blinked back the tears, smiling. "I should eat brunch now. Mom says hi."

"Tell her I said hi too." Damian's gaze lingered on her for a moment, his voice gentle. "I love you."

"I love you too," she whispered.

Just before the screen darkened, Chloe heard a sugary voice on Damian's end. "Looks like we'll be working late tonight again," the woman sang, sweet like candy.

Ximena.

Chloe's fingers tightened around her phone as she searched for Ximena's Instagram profile. The woman's face stared back at her from a series of perfectly curated shots.

Yachting in the Caribbean with handsome...

Skiing in Aspen with Lester Harbor's best quarterback...

Lounging in Bora Bora with a good friend.

Chloe blinked, her pulse quickening at the face she knew too well. That "good friend" in the photo? Fury ignited in her veins, pushing her outrage to a new level.

Oh, hell, no!

***

"Hello?" Vivianne's voice came through the phone, crisp and professional, as always.

If there was one thing Chloe could count on, it was the striking redhead who brought calm when the rest of Chloe's world spun out of control.

"Viv, can you cancel my flight and book me one ticket to London for this afternoon?" Chloe asked, her voice even while sitting in the hotel lobby with her parents, waiting for the limousine to the airport.

"Of course. Is everything alright? The baby? Mister Scott said he's been worried about you both."

Chloe brushed a loose strand of hair from her face. "Yeah, the baby's fine. And call him Damian. You know us well enough by now."

"Yes, ma'am," Vivianne replied smoothly. "I'm looking at the two-twenty-five British Airways flight. First-class. Do you think you'll make it?"

Chloe glanced at her watch.

Twelve-thirty.

"Book it."

"Done," Vivianne confirmed, her efficiency never wavering. "Would your parents need a change of flight too?"

Chloe shook her head, catching her parents' surprised glances. "No, they're headed straight to Lester Harbor."

"Shall I alert Damian?"

Chloe paused. "No, I want to surprise him. Just send me the address for his London office."

"Of course. Is there anything else I can do for you?"

"Yeah. I'll send you a link to a profile I want you to do some digging on. Her name is Ximena Salazar."

"Sure thing. Take care, Chloe."

"I will."

***

A/N: Who did Chloe see in the Insta post? Was it Damian? Or someone else?