Page 19

Chapter eighteen

Samara

Tuesday, July 14, 2026

I t’s late by the time I get home.

My feet ache as I kick my heels off at the door, wiggling my cramped, swollen toes on the hard floors.

I roll my head from side to side, stretching out the tension gathered in my neck and shoulders from the first day of what’s turning into a long string of days spent supporting Sierra, a client I’ve been meeting with for two months now.

She’s worked so damn hard to get her shit together for her son, but her ex has found an attorney who’s more than happy to stereotype my client, using harmful insinuations about her character to back up his claims.

There are very few things in this world that piss me off more than people with inherent privilege from the color of their skin and the dick and balls swinging between their legs to get further in life.

My muscles feel rigid, and my jaw has seemingly ceased to unclench since we finished up today.

I set my purse on the entryway table, grabbing my phone from the inside pocket and sorting through messages as I make my way to my room for a nice, hot bath.

My eyes land on a text from Luca, and my lips pinch together as I read the message.

Luca

Hey Samara, I just wanted to thank you again for everything you’ve done for Gia and me. I know we may have gotten off on the wrong foot, but I couldn’t have done this without you guiding me through the process. My little girl and I get to have many more nights like this one because of you, and I can’t thank you enough for that. Have a great rest of your night.

It doesn’t really feel like I did much of anything.

Frustrated tears well in my eyes as I click on the attached image. Luca and Gia are cuddled up on a couch with a fluffy pink blanket wrapped around them. Gia’s lids are barely open, but there’s no hiding those stunning eyes that mirror her father’s. One green and one blue.

For the rest of the night, I will myself to stop thinking about Luca. He’s done nothing but add stress to my already hectic life, and somehow, he’s an anomaly. I find myself repeatedly thinking about every way in which this man has surprised me since knowing him, and it frustrates me to no end that I’m starting to think far more of the good than I am the bad.