The morning sunlight spilled across the apartment, painting everything gold. Liam sat at the breakfast table, coloring in his notebook, but his mind clearly elsewhere.
"Mommy… Daddy…" he said without looking up. "If someone lies about the truth… does that make them bad forever?"
Ava stirred her coffee slowly, meeting Ethan's glance. "Not forever, baby," she said. "But lies can hurt. And people have to face what they've done."
"But… Claudia tried to hurt us," Liam persisted, pencil paused mid-air. "Does that mean she's really bad?"
Ethan set his mug down, kneeling beside his son. "She's… complicated, Liam. Sometimes people do bad things for power. But that doesn't define who we are. It's what we do in response that matters."
Liam frowned, thinking hard. "So… we fight back with truth?"
"Exactly," Ava said, brushing his hair back gently. "With truth, courage… and a little teamwork."
The Quiet Before the Storm
Once Liam returned to his drawings, Ethan and Ava retreated to the bedroom. The tension of the past weeks hung thick, but in the quiet intimacy of the morning, they allowed themselves to breathe.
Ava leaned against him, resting her head on his chest. "Do we even have time for this?" she whispered, voice husky.
Ethan's fingers traced small circles along her back. "Time… can wait. The fight can wait until morning. But this… this is ours. Just for a little while."
Her lips curved into a small, teasing smile. "A little while… that sounds dangerous."
He chuckled, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Everything with you is dangerous… and delicious. Let's make it count."
The moment became a slow, deliberate escape a pause in the chaos. Ava pressed against him, murmuring words that made his pulse thrum faster, letting the world shrink to just them, their warmth, their shared breaths.
Liam's Curiosity
From the living room, a small voice called out, breaking the moment.
"Mommy… Daddy?"
Ava froze, cheeks flushing. "What is it, baby?"
"Why do grown-ups hug like that?" Liam asked innocently, head peeking around the doorframe.
Ethan groaned softly, pulling Ava closer. "Because sometimes, it's the only way we can show love… and feel safe."
Liam blinked, absorbing this. "Do you have to hug like that for a long time?"
Ava laughed, shaking her head. "Sometimes yes… sometimes no. But it's important to enjoy the moment when you can."
Liam smiled mischievously. "Can I hug too?"
Ethan laughed, lifting him onto the bed. "Of course, buddy. All three of us can be together."
They curled together, a tangle of warmth and safety, the storm outside momentarily forgotten.
Cole Dynamics – Claudia's Move
Across town, Claudia scrolled through her tablet, lips tight. The digital trail Ethan and Ava had left was meticulous proof, leverage, evidence that could dismantle her empire if she didn't act fast.
Victoria leaned close. "Do you think… we underestimated them?"
Claudia's gaze hardened. "No… they are smart. But they are careless too. And everyone has weaknesses." She paused, sipping her wine. "Even the boy… even Liam. He may be small, but he asks questions they think are innocent. But questions can expose truths faster than any lawyer."
Victoria frowned. "Should we…"
"No," Claudia interrupted sharply. "We wait. Observe. Plant a seed here, a shadow there. They will make mistakes… and when they do, we strike."
Ava and Ethan – Reconnecting
Back in the apartment, the soft chaos of Liam's presence allowed Ava and Ethan a rare moment to simply exist. He brushed her hair back, fingers lingering.
"Do you want more?" he asked quietly, a teasing edge in his voice.
Ava's breath hitched, eyes darkening with desire. "Always," she whispered. "Don't stop."
The quiet hum of the city outside was the only witness as they leaned into each other, reclaiming the closeness the boardroom battles had stolen. For a moment, the world Claudia, Victoria, secrets, threats vanished.
Liam's questions and presence reminded them of what they were protecting, but also of the joy, the life, the love that remained. They let themselves be lost together, for as long as the morning would allow, before the war inevitably called them back.