"We were meant to be strangers. Just one evening. No names. No repercussions.
Elara Sinclair lost her job at her family's hotel business, witnessed her dying grandmother's fortune being stolen by the people she trusted most, and caught her fiancé in bed with her stepsister in one cruel evening. She runs to the airport in a desperate attempt to get away, but a storm cancels her flight.
She meets him there.

The stranger gives her one ideal night—no identities, no past, just two people pretending the world doesn't exist—because he is tall, incredibly attractive, and obviously fleeing his own issues. They make a vow to never see each other again after tonight, converse until morning, and divulge secrets they've never told anyone.

However, fate has a perverse sense of humor.
Three weeks later, Elara learns two things: she is expecting a child, and the man she met at the airport is Damien Cross, the merciless billionaire CEO who recently bought her family's business and is now her boss. Even worse, he is her ex-fiance's family's sworn enemy and is unaware that the enigmatic woman he can't stop thinking about is in front of him.

When Damien learns the truth, he presents her with an irresistible offer: a fictitious engagement with strict guidelines—no ties, no feelings, and most definitely no falling in love—in order to eliminate both of their adversaries.
However, their shared evening produced more than simply a child. It forged a bond that neither of them can deny, and as their revenge scheme develops into something genuine, Elara must choose whether to believe the guy who began as a lovely lie or whether their forbidden love will turn into another agonizing farewell.

One flight was canceled. One baby in secret. One lover who is an adversary. And a pledge that was supposed to be broken.

Five days at Margot's had given Iris clarity.


She'd spent them reviewing her own documented evidence, comparing it to what Julian had told her about his investigation, trying to understand the difference between being investigated as a murder suspect and being investigated as part of a larger inquiry into Daniel's death.


Margot had wanted her to stay longer. To process more. To reach conclusions that would justify permanent separation.


She texted Julian: "I want to meet. Somewhere neutral. I need to understand what you found."


He responded immediately: "Café Meridian. 2 PM tomorrow."


The café was public. Busy enough that confrontation couldn't escalate, quiet enough that conversation was possible.


Julian was already seated when she arrived. He looked like he hadn't slept, his face had the specific exhaustion of someone who'd been running through scenarios and conversations repeatedly.


Chapter 20 - THE MEETING