Page 116 of Velvet Chains

Kieran’s expression didn’t change—but his eyes did. They softened. He looked at her like she was the only thing worth watching. Like nothing else in the parking lot, in the whole goddamn world, mattered. And as I watched him watching her, Ifelt so fucking cruel…because I was going to take her away from him.

I was going to do it because I had no other choice.

Then Julian turned around and reminded me that this couldn’t be our life.

“Rosie,” Julian said sharply. “Over here. Now.”

Her face fell.

“I was just talking—”

“Now.”

Rosie blinked, startled, and walked back toward us slowly. Alek stepped in front of her, intercepting, crouching low to dust the snow off her boots as a distraction. Natalia reached for her hand. Julian didn’t say anything else, but I saw the fury in his posture. Valerie put a hand on his arm.

Kieran stayed where he was.

Tristan looked between all of us. His eyes narrowed, calculating.

Then Catherine and Mateo ran back to him, and just like that, the moment dissolved.

But it wouldn’t be forgotten.

Not by me.

Not by Kieran.

Not by Rosie, either, who looked back over her shoulder one last time and whispered, “Merry Christmas, Key,” like it was a secret just for him.

And worst of all…I didn’t think I would be forgotten by Tristan fucking Callahan.

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Ruby

Dinner was a blur, a carousel of sounds and colors that didn’t quite land right. Rosie devoured a second helping of mashed potatoes, then begged to open just one present early. I let her, and the whole table paused while she tore through the wrapping paper with the gusto of a wolf cub. It was a science kit from Martin—test tubes, safety goggles, an illustrated manual with wide-eyed cartoon microbes on the cover.

“You’re trying to turn my daughter into a mad scientist,” Julian said flatly.

“Too late,” Alek replied. “She’s already committed several war crimes in Minecraft.”

Rosie grinned. “I have a lab now. None of you are safe.”

We laughed, of course. We laughed and clinked glasses and played the roles we were meant to play—divorced co-parents,supportive friends, new partners trying their best. Rosie was the axis we all orbited. She held us together, if only for one night.

But the scene at the church echoed under my skin like a drumbeat. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Tristan’s stare. Kieran’s stillness. Rosie waving like none of it meant anything.

Why were they there? Was it…posturing?

Or did Tristan know? And…was he going to use Rosie to hurt me?

To hurt Kieran?

When dessert came, I took a polite bite of pie and excused myself to the kitchen. Natalia followed a minute later. She didn’t ask; just leaned against the counter while I rinsed dishes I didn’t need to rinse.

“Hey,” she said. “Do you need help?”

“Not really.”

“Well, pretend you do. I want you to spill the tea.”