Chapter 100: A Door Closed

Julian glanced at Riley. They’d crossed swords for years; if Cora was with her, she’d be safe. He gave a short nod.

Dina noticed Cora wasn’t getting into Julian’s car and immediately tottered up, hand pressed to her temple. “Cora… my head hurts. Could you take me to the hospital? It’s so far from here.”

Riley had brought a Porsche—two seats up front, and the back crammed with plush toys. No room.

Cora lifted her eyes to Julian, a quiet plea there. Ask your husband to drive his ex? Only Cora would try.

Riley almost laughed, then bit it back.

Julian understood. He didn’t keep her hanging. A faint nod. Permission granted.

Dina lit up. He’s softening?

Cora didn’t wait to find out. She slid into Riley’s car, and the sleek coupe slipped away, sunlight flashing off the hood until it vanished down the lane.

Julian watched until the taillights were gone. “Let’s move.”

Dina shifted to hover near him, demure as a shadow.

He frowned. “Why are you standing here? Take the last car.”

Without a glance at her, he got in. Baron opened the rear door of the final SUV for Dina, amusement barely concealed.

Her smile cracked. She’d hoped to finagle a shared ride. Instead, Julian’s convoy rolled forward, leaving her blinking in the dust. Jaw tight, she climbed into the end of the line.

—

Riley drove steady, easy—maybe because Cora sat beside her, quiet as the wind. By the time they pulled into the flower market, color washed the morning: lilies, peonies, wild sprays of green. Cora’s chest loosened.

For a while, they wandered. The noise in her head dimmed.

“Have you actually let go?” Riley asked, turning a glossy stem between her fingers.

“If I don’t, what changes?” Cora said softly. “It’s not my first heartbreak. I’ll live.”

Since last night—since that ask—she’d shut a door inside herself.

Riley arched a brow. “You’re really handing Julian to Dina?”

“I’m stepping out of a stupid game.” Cora’s smile was calm, almost luminous. She hugged a bouquet of white lilies. “If his heart is with Dina, my ‘permission’ doesn’t matter. If it isn’t, my ‘refusal’ won’t matter either. I like these.”

“Well argued. I’ve got nothing.” Riley sighed. “Maybe you’re right. Men like Julian are…a lot. Being near him isn’t restful. You still plan to leave after the baby?”

“What else?” Her smile didn’t waver. “It was always a contract.”

Riley nodded and let it drop.

They paid, drove across N City, and rode the elevator up to Riley’s apartment—a hundred square meters tucked into a slice of skyline. Small for the neighborhood, perfect for one.

“I don’t come here much,” Riley said, setting flowers in a vase. “Only when my head’s a mess. Sit there.”

Cora followed her gesture to a chair by the floor-to-ceiling glass. Two arterial roads braided below into a precise crosswalk; cars flowed, people stepped, lights changed. Chaos, arranged.

It is peaceful, she realized.

Riley’s phone buzzed. She answered, stilled, and shot Cora a look. “How did you know she’s here?”

A beat. Riley’s expression turned…interesting. She hung up. “That was Liam. Dinner. He wants to talk to you. If I’m right, it’s about Qara.”

Cora blinked. “I’m curious too.” She laughed, short and honest. “Wouldn’t you be?”

Riley called back and set a time.

By the time they reached the restaurant, Liam was already there. He rose, pulled out chairs. “Forgive the imposition. I wanted to buy you dinner—and ask a favor.”

Cora and Riley traded a look. Here it comes.

Menus closed, Cora cut straight in. “Say it, Mr. Mayer. I can take it.”

He didn’t waste the opening. “You’ve likely guessed. I need to ask… are you certain you don’t know Qara?”

His gaze pinned her.

“You’ve investigated me,” Cora said evenly. “You know I’m adopted.”

“I do.” His voice gentled. “Would you consider—purely to rule things out—some tests? I understand resemblance happens. But the two of you… it’s uncanny.”

“Sorry. No.” She didn’t flinch. “Whoever my biological parents are, it doesn’t matter. My mother is Zoy. If you want the adoption details, ask her. With your resources, finding her won’t be hard.”

Liam fell quiet.

She knew what he wanted: a DNA swab, a truth to scratch an old wound. She wouldn’t give it.

“Say I’m related to the Davis family,” she went on, calm as glass. “So what? Why would I return to the people who left me? And if I’m not, then all you’ve done is stir up hope to disappoint it. Either way, it’s pointless.”

His blue eyes held on hers, complicated.

Riley finally spoke. “We came, honestly, because Qara’s a legend. As her fiancé, you knew her best. Tell us about her.”

Liam blinked—then understood. Curiosity cut both ways.

“Alright,” he said quietly. “If you truly want to hear it, I’ll tell you. If it bores you, say so.”

Cora leaned in; Riley did too.

He looked at Cora a long moment. “You really are too alike.”

Cora touched her own cheek, wry. Twenty-three years with one face, and suddenly there was a mirror version—brighter, rarer, painfully loved. A twinge of envy surprised her; she let it pass.

Qara: M University’s immortal campus queen. Eight languages. Music, art, verse—effortless.

And me? A mess of relatives, a selfish adoptive family, a first love sold off, a first night stolen—and a baby with a man I don’t… shouldn’t… love.

“Standing face-to-face,” she said, half-laughing at herself, “I’d probably think I’d walked into a mirror.”