Chapter 18 Real Love Journey

• Ada smiled softly at this, a warmth touching her tired eyes. “Of course. As long as this is all done amicably, I have no problem with it. She’s your daughter too.” Her voice was steady, but beneath it was a tremor of vulnerability — this was a moment she’d dreaded and hoped for all at once.
• Tarquin felt his chest loosen, the tension of the night ebbing ever so slightly. His lips curved into a genuine smile for the first time that evening — a smile of relief, of gratitude. “Okay, we should also talk about money. I mean, I know you’re comfortable as you’ve pointed out, but I need to set up an account for her, to…” He trailed off, unsure how to phrase his eagerness without offending her independence.
• Ada let out a soft, melodic laugh that surprised them both. It lightened the air between them, if only for a moment. “Why don’t we talk about that later?” she said, eyes glinting with a mixture of amusement and exhaustion. “Let’s take things step by step... starting with us picking a suitable date for you to come visit this week. Like Saturday? If that’s okay with you... and Theresa, of course.” The name tumbled out, and in that instant, she remembered. His fiancée. The life he had that she was never meant to be a part of.