Chapter 83

Lauren's POV

“Have you had something to eat?” I asked her softly, brushing a loose strand of her dark hair from her face.

She shook her head quickly, those big curious eyes of hers blinking up at me.

“Mummy’s sorry,” I whispered, kissing her forehead. “Come on, let’s go make something together.”

I stood up, balancing her weight easily as I set her back down on the ground. Her little shoes tapped against the floor as she grabbed my hand, and together we walked into the kitchen.

It’s funny, ever since Aria turned three, I’ve hated going to work. Not because I dislike what I do — no, I’ve poured five years of sweat into building my career here in Italy but because work always steals time away from her. My hours are long, my responsibilities heavier than I ever imagined. By the time I come home, I’m often late. Sometimes her teacher drops her off, and she ends up waiting alone in the house until I return.

The thought of her wandering