no dramatic empire collapsing overnight.
He simply lost the things he had taken for granted.
His marriage.
His home.
His daughter’s trust.
And the certainty that Claire would always stay no matter what he did.
One Sunday afternoon, Daniel stood at the grill while Marcus complained that he was burning the chicken.
Noah and Ethan were helping Sophie hang a basketball hoop.
Luke sat beside me on the porch drinking lemonade.
He looked toward Sophie.
“You okay?”
I smiled.
“Yes.”
And this time, I meant it.
Derek had believed calling
