Chapter 81

Emma sat in her car outside Charlotte’s school, phone pressed to her ear, about to change everything.

“Mr. Palmer? It’s Emma Mitchell.”

“Emma! I was hoping you’d call. Have you made your decision?”

Through the school window, she could see Charlotte in her classroom, working on some art project with intense concentration. Her daughter’s life was about to change dramatically, and Charlotte had no idea.

“Yes,” Emma said. “I accept.”

“Excellent! This is going to be—”

“But I have conditions.”

Palmer paused. “I’m listening.”

“The announcement timeline stays the same, but I want my legal team to review everything before the gala. And I want guarantees about family privacy.”

“Of course. Anything else?”

Emma watched Charlotte hold up her artwork—a drawing of their family, all four of them holding hands in front of what looked like a hockey rink.

“No,” Emma said quietly. “That’s all.”

“Welcome to the Maple Leafs family, E