“Something urgent came up at the office. I need to head out.”

“Alright. Good luck with it.” Isabella gave a nod of understanding.

Lucas didn’t move immediately.

He held her gaze for a long moment, his expression unreadable.

Then he turned and walked away.

She watched him vanish into the bustling crowd outside.

That lingering look left her unsettled.

A strange unease prickled at her senses.

She shook her head, forcing the feeling away.

She and Liam finished their shopping and returned home.

Isabella settled her son on the sofa with his favorite cartoons.

She moved to the kitchen to start preparing dinner.

Out of the blue, Liam’s small voice cut through the quiet.

“Mommy, where were you last night?”

Her hands stilled.

She kept her back to him, buying a few seconds to think.

“I had some work to finish, sweetheart.”

“Oh.” His tone was tinged with disappointment. “Please don’t go out at night again. Okay?”

She set the vegetables down and walked back to the living room.

Kneeling before the sofa, she met his eyes.

“I’ll do my best to be home every night. I promise.”

She offered a warm smile. “And tonight, I’ll make your favorite egg custard. How does that sound?”

Liam’s face lit up with a bright grin. “Great!”

The apartment fell into a comfortable silence after dinner.

She gave Liam his bath and tucked him into bed.

She stayed until his breathing evened out in sleep.

Then she quietly slipped out of the room.

She moved to her desk and opened her laptop.

The screen’s glow illuminated her tired features.

She took a deep breath and opened a design file labeled “Free Hibiscus.”

The next morning, she followed her usual routine.

After washing and dressing, she went to Liam’s bedside.

He was still deep in sleep, long lashes brushing his cheeks.

“Liam, honey?” she called softly. “Time to wake up. We have your hospital check-up today.”

He stirred, rubbing his eyes. “Mommy. Are we seeing Dr. Brooks?”

“Yes, we are.” She helped him out of bed and into his clothes. “After the hospital, we’ll get something yummy to eat.”

Within the hour, Dr. Daniel Brooks was carefully examining Liam.

He made notes on the boy’s post-surgery progress.

“He’s recovering very well. The wound is healing nicely.” Daniel set his stethoscope aside. “This little one is quite the fighter.”

“Thank you, Dr. Brooks.” A wave of relief washed over her.

The weight on her shoulders felt lighter.

As soon as they left the consultation room, Liam looked up at her.

“Mommy, can I have ice cream?”

She considered it for a moment. “A small one. That should be fine.”