The aftermath of Alistair's downfall brought a strange kind of stillness. For days, Kiera had immersed herself in rebuilding the foundation, attending meetings, coordinating with legal teams, and addressing the press. Yet beneath the whirlwind of work, a quieter, more personal storm was stirring—one she hadn't fully allowed herself to acknowledge until now.
Kade was always there. Not intrusively, not as a shadow, but present in the ways that mattered: watching, protecting, guiding, supporting. Always steady. Always reliable. And for the first time, Kiera began to notice details—the small kindnesses, the way he listened more than he spoke, the rare glimpses of vulnerability behind his calm exterior.
