In the evening, Ann stood in front of the mirror in the bedroom, brushing her hair. Her hands moved slowly, her mind still stuck on the earlier lunch with Victor Knight. He had been cold, distant but something had changed when he held the baby. She saw it. A flicker of warmth, quickly hidden. Still, it gave her hope. But now Richard had told her something that made her heart beat faster. “Father wants to take us to dinner tonight,” Richard had said earlier. “Just the three of us. He said he wants to talk.” “Dinner?” Ann had asked, startled. “With me?” Richard nodded. “Yes. He didn’t ask. He told me. He’s trying, in his own way. Let’s give him the chance.” Ann wanted to believe that. She wanted to believe Victor was trying. But what if it was another test? Another chance to put her down?
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