Morning sunlight poured into the bedroom, and for once, Nancy didn't have a pressing board meeting, a brewing scandal, or an inbox full of fire to put out.
Instead, there was quiet.
Adrian had cooked breakfast—burnt toast and too-crispy bacon. But the effort was everything.
"This is… delightfully tragic," Nancy said, holding up a piece of toast like it was a science experiment.
"Hey," Adrian defended, "culinary arts are subjective."
"Sure. If the goal was weaponized bread."
They both laughed, a sound they hadn't shared like this in weeks.
---
Later – At the Blackwood Foundation
Nancy stepped into her new office, a mix of sleek glass and warm wood. There were still flowers from donors, congratulations cards, and a giant whiteboard covered in plans.
She stared at it, feeling the buzz of beginnings.
Then her assistant popped in. "There's a reporter from The Voice Weekly requesting a private interview. About your journey. Wants to focus on the shift from student to CEO's wife to—well, queen."
Nancy chuckled. "Book them. But tell them I'm not a queen. Just a girl with a battle plan."
---
Adrian's Office – Later That Day
"Sir," his security chief said quietly, "there's a situation."
Adrian raised a brow. "Go on."
"There was a breach at Camille's temporary holding facility. She's gone."
Adrian stood slowly, the weight of that information settling like lead.
"How?"
"Unknown. But we suspect an insider helped."
Adrian muttered under his breath, "And so the game starts again."
---
Downtown – Shady Warehouse
Camille tossed the thumb drive onto a desk in front of a shadowy figure.
"There's enough dirt on Blackwood Enterprises in here to make Wall Street flinch," she said.
The figure picked it up. "You want revenge?"
She smiled coldly. "No. I want headlines. I want her to know she's not untouchable."
---
That Evening – At Home
Nancy and Adrian sat on the couch, wine glasses in hand, their new puppy snoring between them—a ridiculous, floppy Golden Retriever named Muffin.
"I think Muffin's got more enemies than we do," Nancy mused as the dog barked in his sleep.
"Definitely more attitude," Adrian agreed.
Then Nancy grew serious. "Camille's out."
He nodded. "We have to prepare. But this time, we're not walking in blind."
Nancy raised her glass. "To round two."
Adrian clinked it. "To winning again."