Aria’s POV
Three years later.
"Yes, I have the quarterly report ready. I’ll send it over before the eting."
I wedged my phone between my ear and shoulder, simultaneously stuffing Lina’s lunchbox into her tiny unicorn backpack. The zipper stuck. It always stuck. I yanked it with practiced efficiency while nodding along to whatever my colleague was saying.
"Uh-huh. Yes. The Morrison account? Already handled."
Lina tugged at my skirt. "Mommy, I can’t find my shoes."
I pointed toward the hallway without looking. "By the door, baby. The pink ones."
"I want the purple ones!"
"The purple ones are in the wash. Pink today."
"But—"
"Lina." I gave her The Look. The one that said ’mommy is on the phone and you have three seconds to cooperate.’
She pouted. But she went to get the pink shoes.
Victory.
"Sorry about that," I said into the phone. "What was the tiline again? Friday? That’s tight, but I can make it work. I’ll have the presentation drafted by Thursday for review."
My daughter reappeared, shoes on the wrong feet. I sighed internally. Externally, I just crouched down and fixed them while wrapping up the call.
"Perfect. See you at ten."
I hung up. Checked the ti. 7:45. We were actually on schedule for once.
"Okay, monster." I zipped up her jacket. "Ready for school?"
Lina grinned up at . Those black-gold eyes sparkled with mischief. Her dark hair was pulled into two slightly uneven pigtails—my handiwork, not perfect but passable.
She was beautiful. My beautiful girl.
Every ti I looked at her, my heart did sothing complicated. A twist of love so fierce it almost hurt. Mixed with other things. mories. Shadows.
But mostly love.
"Can we get donuts?" she asked hopefully.
"We had donuts yesterday."
"So?"
"So you’re going to turn into a donut if we keep this up."
"I WANT to be a donut!"
I laughed. Couldn’t help it. "Co on, little donut. Let’s go."
The drive to Lina’s preschool took fifteen minutes. She chattered the entire way. About her best friend Mia. About the painting she was going to make today. About how her teacher said she was really good at counting.
I listened to every word. Responded to every question. Made the appropriate sounds of amazent and approval.
This was my life now.
Carpools and lunchboxes. Conference calls and quarterly reports. Bedti stories and morning chaos.
Normal.
So beautifully, wonderfully normal.
I pulled up to Sunshine Academy—one of the best preschools in the district. Mrs. Morrison had recomnded it. Had pulled so strings to get Luna enrolled.
One of a thousand kindnesses that woman had shown .
"Okay, baby." I unbuckled Lina and helped her out. "Be good today. Listen to your teachers. Be nice to your friends."
"I’m ALWAYS nice."
"Mm-hmm." I kissed her forehead. "I’ll pick you up at three, okay?"
"Okay, Mommy!" She threw her arms around my neck. Squeezed tight. "Love you to the moon!"
"Love you to the moon and back." I squeezed her right back. Breathed in her scent—baby shampoo and sugar cookies.
No moonflowers anymore. That part of was gone.
Lina ran toward her classroom, backpack bouncing. She turned at the door to wave. I waved back. Watched until she disappeared inside.
Then I got back in my car, checked my reflection in the mirror, and transford into Professional Aria.
Navy blazer. White blouse. Hair twisted into a sleek bun. Small gold earrings—a gift from Sophie for my last birthday.
I looked like soone who had her life together.
Funny how that worked.
The Morrison Industries building glead in the morning sun. Glass and steel. Twenty floors of corporate ambition.
I still rembered the first ti I’d walked through those doors. Terrified. Pregnant. Convinced I’d be exposed as a fraud within the first hour.
Now I strode through the lobby like I owned the place.
"Good morning, Ms. Moon!"
That was Derek from security. I smiled at him. "Morning, Derek. How’s the baby?"
"Keeping us up all night." He grinned. "But worth it."
"They always are."
I swiped my badge and headed for the elevator. Two more people greeted on the way.
"Aria! The contracts you sent over were perfect."
"Thanks, Janet. Just doing my job."
"Hey, Aria! Coffee later?"
"You’re on, Mathew. My treat this ti."
The elevator doors opened. I stepped inside with three other people from different floors. They all knew my na. All smiled when they saw .
Three years.
That’s how long it had taken to build this life. This reputation. This version of myself that walked with confidence instead of cowering in shadows.
The executive floor was buzzing when I arrived. Phones ringing. People moving with purpose.
I loved it.
My desk was exactly how I’d left it yesterday. Organized chaos. Post-its in four different colors. Three frad photos—Lina as a newborn, Lina at her second birthday, Lina at last month’s dance recital.
I settled into my chair. Logged into my computer. Started sorting through emails.
8:47 AM. eting at 10. Presentation to finalize. Three client calls to return.
Just another Tuesday.
I was deep in a spreadsheet when my phone buzzed. Text ssage.
Sophie: DRINKS TONIGHT. You, , that new wine bar downtown. NO EXCUSES.
I smiled. Typed back: Can’t. Have the tiny human to take care of, rember?
Sophie: Get a sitter!!!
: On a Tuesday?
Sophie: It’s for your NTAL HEALTH. I’m prescribing wine. Doctor’s orders.
I laughed out loud. The woman in the cubicle next to glanced over. I mouthed ’sorry’ and turned back to my phone.
: You’re not a doctor.
Sophie: I’m a doctor of FRIENDSHIP. And you need to get out more. When was the last ti you did sothing that didn’t involve crayons or bedti stories?
She had a point. I couldn’t rember.
: Let see if Mrs. Chen can watch Lina. No promises.
Sophie: YESSS. I’m taking that as a yes. 8 PM. Wear sothing cute. Maybe we’ll et so hot guys.
I shook my head with smile. Just sent a laughing emoji and put my phone down.
Back to the spreadsheet. Numbers swam in front of my eyes. I forced myself to focus. The Morrison account was important. Mrs. Morrison trusted with it personally.
I wouldn’t let her down.
I never let her down.
That was my thing now. Reliability. Competence. Being the person everyone could count on.
The opposite of everything I’d been in my old life.
An hour passed. I finished the spreadsheet. Sent it off for review. Started on the presentation.
My phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Am I speaking with Lina Moon’s mother?"
I sat up straighter. "Yes. This is Aria Moon."
"Ms. Moon, this is Director Patterson from Sunshine Academy."
My heart skipped. "Is everything okay?" I asked. Trying to keep my voice calm. Probably failing.
"Ms. Moon, I need you to co to the school imdiately."
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