Zara strode through the lobby of ByteHive, her thoughts scattered like fallen leaves. She kept her chin up, but her eyes shimmered with tears she refused to let fall.
She had acted strong in front of Ethan. Held her ground. But inside, she was trembling.
"I will never lose my kids to him," she kept whispering to herself under her breath. Over and over, like a mantra.
She didn't even realize where she was going until she bumped straight into someone's chest. Solid, familiar. She staggered back a little.
"Sorry," she mumbled, not even looking up.
"Zara?" a voice called gently. A hand caught her wrist.
Only then did she glance up—and met Zavier's eyes.
"Oh. Hey, Zavier," she said, forcing a smile. "I'm fine."
But her eyes told the truth.
Zavier glanced behind him at the group of directors he'd been speaking with, then tugged her gently aside. "Zara, don't tell me you came here to see Ethan."
