---- Chapter 26 Amira Osborne POV: With Jianna and Carter temporarily out of the picture, a fragile peace settled over our lives. | threw myself into my new role at a prestigious tech firm, often working late into the night. Arjun, who worked at the same company, seamlessly filled the gaps, picking Chloe up from school, making sure she did her homework, and having a hot meal waiting for me when | got home. We fell into a comfortable, domestic rhythm that felt both strange and wonderful. We were a team. A family. Chloe's fifth birthday was approaching. | had planned to take her on a trip to Disney World, but she had other ideas. "| want a party, Mommy," she announced one night at dinner. "A big one, with all my friends, and a bouncy castle." Professor Albright later told me that Chloe hadn't celebrated a birthday since her parents died. The thought of giving her a day of pure, unadulterated joy filled me with a fierce determination. "A party it is," | said, kissing her forehead. She threw her arms around my neck. "I love you, Mommy. | want to stay with you and Daddy forever." ---- My heart swelled with a love so powerful it almost hurt. The day of the party was perfect. The sun was shining, the backyard was filled with laughing children, and Chloe was beaming, her face lit up with a joy that was contagious. And then he arrived. Chloe saw him first, standing at the edge of the yard. "It's the hero uncle!" she shouted, and ran to him, grabbing his hand and dragging him into the party. Carter looked even thinner than before, a haunted, fragile look in his eyes. Behind him, looking sullen and uncomfortable, were Francine and their son. My first instinct was to call security. But then | saw the hopeful, excited look on Chloe's face. Today was her day. | wouldn't ruin it. "What are you doing here?" | asked him, my voice a low whisper. "l came to say goodbye," he said, his voice quiet and resigned. He looked at me, his gaze clear and steady for the first time in years. "I'm taking them and leaving the country. Starting over. | realize now... | realize you're never going to love me again. And if | don't want you to hate me for the rest of your life, the best thing | can do is disappear." | stared at him, skeptical. "Why the sudden change of heart?" ---- He let out a humorless laugh. "When you stand in a police station and the woman you love looks at you with nothing but contempt in her eyes... it's a wake-up call. | spent so long thinking our past was my trump card. But it's not. It's just a reminder of the man | failed to be." He looked so broken, so utterly defeated, that for the first time, | almost believed him. My thoughts were interrupted by a piercing scream.