Chapter 394

Madison

I pulled away from the parking lot, tires crunching over gravel as Mario’s disappeared in my rearview mirror. My hands gripped the steering wheel too tightly, knuckles white against the leather.

“Mom, who was that man?” Ethan’s voice cut through my spiraling thoughts.

I glanced at him. He’d buckled himself in without prompting, legs swinging, chocolate still smeared at the corner of his mouth despite my earlier cleaning attempts.

“Just someone I used to work with, baby.”

“He looked important. Like a prince! Or a king!” Ethan bounced in his seat. “Does he live in a castle?”

A laugh escaped before I could stop it, sharp and bitter. “More like a tower, actually. A really tall, really expensive tower.”

“Cool! Can we visit?”

“Absolutely not.”

“Why?”

“Because princes and kings are overrated.” I merged onto the main road, watching the restaurant fade in my mirrors. “They think they can show up wherever they want, wh