Ex's.

"I believe my husband and I are here for pure business," Georgia said, her voice firm and clear, her hand clutching Gael's like a lifeline. "We want a car."

Alice nodded with a diplomatic smile, though her eyes lingered a second too long on their interlocked hands. "Of course," she replied, the professional in her tone barely concealing the personal beneath.

"This way," she gestured with a soft wave, leading them out of the office.

They stepped into the elevator with a uniformed sales staff member joining them. The ride down was silent, the tension thick like the tinted glass surrounding them.

 When the doors opened, they walked through a corridor that led directly to the indoor showroom, a sprawling, high-ceilinged space filled with sleek, polished cars arranged like a fleet of luxury dreams.

The staff member cleared his throat and began his pitch as they walked between vehicles.

"Our cars are top-tier, with advanced safety features, AI-assisted controls, and exceptional mileage. Whether you're looking for something practical or luxury, we guarantee both."

As they rounded the corner toward a row of high-end SUVs and sedans, Alice trailed slightly behind them, pulling out her phone.

📩 Come to the South Wing. Now.

✅Message sent.

A few minutes later, footsteps echoed lightly against the glossy floor. Georgia felt it before she saw it, the shift in the air, the strange, heavy pause in the energy.

Dante Romero stepped into view.

He froze in place for a split second when he saw them. His eyes locked on her like he'd just seen a ghost—lips parting, disbelief clouding his features. In an expensive navy blazer and his usual signature watch, he still looked exactly the same... only older. Wearier.

"Sweetheart," Alice greeted him with a smile a little too sweet. "Thank you for coming."

Gael turned with mild surprise, his expression courteous but unreadable. "Mr. Romero."

"Gael," Dante nodded, then his gaze snapped back to Georgia. 

"So," the staff member, oblivious to the emotional undercurrent, piped up, "what kind of car are we looking for today?"

 "A family SUV. Something reliable and durable. And a second vehicle, something sleek but safe. Our daughter's just transferred to college here." Gael said.

Dante blinked, like he was just processing the words. Daughter. College. 

"Right this way," the staff member gestured, leading Gael toward a black Lexus RX and a wine-red sedan nearby.

"I'll come with you," Alice said with a sweet smile that only Georgia recognized as territorial.

That left just the two of them and Dante finally turned fully toward her.

"Georgia -"

"Not now, Dante."She cut him off.

 He stepped forward, his voice dropping lower, softer, like that would somehow make a difference.

"Georgia, please. I'm sorry. Sorry for what happened between us. Sorry for ruining our marriage…"

Georgia stopped mid-step but didn't turn to him. Her back was straight, her arms folded tight across her chest like armor. The pain that had taken years to silence now pressed against her ribs, screaming for space.

"You have nothing to be sorry about," she said, her voice trembling but strong. "Because of you, I met Gael. He loves me. He makes me feel seen, valued… special. In ways you never could."

She turned then, finally facing him.

"I love my family. I love my daughter. I love my husband. I love my son-"

"Son?" Dante blinked, stunned. "You… you have a son?"

Georgia tilted her head slightly, her expression unreadable. "Last I checked," she said coolly, "I have a husband."

The weight of her words knocked the air out of Dante's lungs, he couldn't explain this feeling he had inside."Please… for Kimberly's sake. I want to be a father to her."

Her jaw clenched, fury flickering in her eyes as she folded her fists.

"Don't use my daughter as an excuse," she said sharply, emphasizing the word "My." "We divorced and I got custody. I raised her, I held her through every heartbreak. I watched her grow. She's mine."

Dante's mouth opened, but Georgia cut him off.

"And don't pretend like you care. Kimberly doesn't even want anything to do with you. She has a father, one who's been there every damn day of her life, and it's not some piece of crap who traded his family for a fling."

Silence fell between them. Cold and Brutal but Real.

"Hon," Gael's voice called from a distance. He was standing near the payment office, holding out a file.

Georgia didn't spare Dante another glance. She turned, her heels echoing against the concrete as she strode across the showroom.

Dante stood frozen, fists clenched, eyes burning with frustration and regret.

"Fuck," he muttered under his breath, dragging a hand through his hair as he watched the only woman he'd ever truly loved walk away- again. This time, for good.

---

 ROMERO RESIDENCE – LIVING ROOM – NIGHT

The front door slammed. Alice stormed into the living room, heels clacking hard against the polished floor. Dante followed shortly after, jacket tossed over one arm, face tight with irritation.

"One minute I step out, the next you're cozying up to your ex?" Alice spun around, arms crossed. "Why, Dante? Feeling nostalgic? Want to go be with your real family now?"

Dante dropped the jacket on the couch, his patience already wearing thin. "Don't start, Alice."

"Oh, I already started," she snapped, stalking toward him. "You think I didn't see the way you looked at her? Georgia shows up and suddenly you remember you had a wife before me?"

"It's not what you think," Dante barked. "I just wanted to talk to her- about Kimberly."

"And why is that, huh?" Alice stepped closer, jabbing a finger into his chest. "You want to play daddy now? To a girl you abandoned? Or is it that seeing Georgia made you realize what you threw away?"

"Jesus, Alice- " he growled. "You're turning this into something it's not! I just want a relationship with my daughter. I don't even know what she looks like!"

Alice's lauged, a bitter one at that.

"Wow. How touching, real touching." Her eyes narrowed in anger. "And tell me, Dante, when was the last time you gave a damn about the daughter you do have?"

He blinked.

"Exactly." Alice stepped back,her voice rising. "Do you even know when Amelia's birthday is? What course she's studying in college? Her favorite drink, her best friend's name? No, you don't. Because you've never tried."

"Don't turn this around on me, Alice," Dante shouted, face flushing red. "You've always pushed me out. Always played the perfect mother while making me look like a stranger in my own home!"

"Because you are a stranger!" she shot back. "To her. To me. To this whole damn family! The only time you show interest is when Amelia screws up and now Georgia's name pops up and suddenly you're father of the year?"

Dante ran a hand through his hair, pacing like a caged animal.

"I made mistakes, alright? I ruined a lot of shit! But you don't get to judge me for wanting to fix at least one of them!"

"Fix?" Alice scoffed. "You're not a fixer, Dante. You're a runner. You ran from Georgia, from Kim, from us- every time things got uncomfortable. And now you want what? A gold star for showing up too late?"

"Maybe if you weren't so damn bitter all the time-"

"Oh don't you DARE!" Alice yelled, voice trembling with fury. "You don't get to blame me for your failures as a husband and father. Not this time."

"I want to see my daughter," Dante finally muttered, quieter but no less firm. "I don't care what you think. I don't care what Georgia thinks. I need to look her in the eye… and try."

"Good luck with that," Alice spat. "Because from what I saw in that showroom today, your 'daughter' wants absolutely nothing to do with you."

°°°

The door creaked open, and Amelia stepped in, the familiar sound of raised voices already slicing through the walls. She froze for half a second in the hallway. Her jaw clenched. 

"Are you kidding me…" she muttered under her breath, then slammed the door shut behind her.

BAM!

The argument paused for a beat as she stormed into the living room.

"That's enough!!" she shouted, her voice cutting clean through the tension.

Dante and Alice turned, both caught mid-bicker, faces still burning with anger.

"Do you guys do anything but argue? Seriously, what the hell is wrong with you two?" Her arms flew in exasperation. "Every single night, it's like clockwork!"

"Just go to your room, Amelia," Dante muttered, already pinching the bridge of his nose.

"No!" she snapped. "I'm so done keeping quiet and pretending this is normal. It's not. It's toxic, it's suffocating and honestly, it's pathetic."

Alice flinched slightly and Dante's jaw tightened. Amelia has always complained but this....

"You think I enjoy coming home to this war zone every day?" Amelia continued, her voice shaking with frustration. "Thanks seriously. Thank you guys for giving me such a pathetic and destructive home!" Her sarcasm dripped like acid.

She turned on her heel before either of them could respond, heels stomping against the stairs.

"You wanna know why I don't bring people over? Why I always find excuses to leave early? Why I always throw parties at a club instead of here? This! This exact bullshit!"

She disappeared up the stairs, slamming her bedroom door behind her with a violent THUD.