Her eyes were red when she hugged me, patting my back through tears. “You’re home now. You’re home.”
Lionel had already grabbed my suitcase without a word.
After Aunt Sophia and I caught up a little, he finally spoke. “Yuna just got here. Let’s get her home so she can rest.”
His voice matched his vibe–calm, warm.
Aunt Sophia sniffled, squeezing my hand. “Look at me, totally forgetting. You must be exhausted. Let’s get you home. I had a welcome dinner prepared.”
She’d left law behind years ago, passing the firm to Lionel and settling into the rich–wife life. Ten years back, she’d married into one of Hampsburg’s old–money dynasties. Her husband, Arthur Rinehart, was the family heir–and Lionel’s uncle.
Sophia was always strong–willed. Still showed up in court while pregnant.
But two years ago, after my niece got sick, she finally slowed down. Started focusing more on family. That’s when she really began trying to pull me to Hampsburg.
She held my hand the whole walk in, leading me to a room she’d clearly poured her heart into.
“Yuna, I wasn’t sure what style you liked, so I went with what the younger crowd’s into. This is the best room in the Rinehart house, Used to be Lionel’s, but I kicked him down the hall when I heard you were coming.”
I glanced at the closet–stacked with the latest designer pieces, handbags, jewelry. My chest tightened, in the good way.
A knock broke the moment. Lionel stood in the doorway, wearing an off–white sweater, his bangs falling just right.
“Sorry to interrupt. Dinner’s ready.”
Peter didn’t get it. No way Yuna–his Yuna–was actually divorcing him.
He figured she was just mad about the birthday thing. She didn’t mean it.
Even with Cindy yelling behind him, he didn’t stop. He had to find Yuna..
She had to stay. She had to.
The idea of waking up without her? It messed him up.
Ten years. That’s how long he’d loved her. She was part of him.
But when he hit up her department, she was gone.
And the way everyone looked at him? Pure disgust.
