Celeste Bennett sat in silence at her kitchen table, the morning paper folded neatly beside her untouched breakfast. The white porcelain cup of espresso had long gone cold. Across from her, the tablet lay face-up, glowing with one headline after another.
“A New Chapter: Sebastian Hale and Isabelle Bennett Reclaim Their Story—Together.”
“Power Couple or Cautionary Tale?”
“From Ex-Wife to Expecting: Isabelle Bennett’s Quiet Triumph.”
The photos were everywhere. Isabelle in soft light, barefoot and glowing. Sebastian looking down at her with something heartbreakingly sincere in his eyes. The twins—Amelia grinning like the sun, Eliott solemn and grounded beside his mother.
It was too perfect.
Too carefully framed.
Celeste stared at her daughter’s face and felt something cold settle bene
