His kiss was slow and careful. It did not claim. It asked, and Chloe answered.

Chapter 9 — Choose Me Again Tomorrow

One year later, Bradley Foster stood in federal court and pleaded guilty to fraud, conspiracy, and theft from investment clients. Chloe watched the news report without satisfaction.

A week before sentencing, Bradley mailed her a letter. He wrote that he was sorry. He wrote that losing everything had forced him to understand how many people he had treated as less important than himself.

Chloe read the letter once. Then she placed it in a drawer. Forgiveness, she had learned, did not require reopening a door.

Danny remained in Ohio, working construction and attending meetings for his gambling addiction. He called every Sunday and sent Dominic wooden toys he made from scraps at the job site.

Leo transformed his organization more slowly than Chloe wanted and more quickly than anyone else believed possible. The illegal betting rooms closed first.