*Chapter 20: The Morning After*
The sun came in too bright.
Jane woke up on the couch.
A blanket over her. Ryan’s jacket under her head.
The house was quiet. Too quiet.
Then she heard it.
The sound of cereal. Of laughter. Of Button’s tail hitting the floor.
She sat up. Her phone was buzzing. Nonstop.
*Bella*: _GIRL. YOU’RE ON EVERY COVER._
*Mira*: _Press is calling it ‘the moment of the year’. Do you need a statement?_
*Unknown*: _Gold digger._
*Unknown*: _You deserve him._
*Unknown*: _Is it real?_
Jane didn’t open them.
She padded to the kitchen in bare feet.
*8:12 AM - The Kitchen*
Ryan was at the stove. In sweatpants and a Sterling Corp tee.
Burning pancakes. Again.
Aria was at the table, covered in syrup, telling Button about the gala.
Aiden was reading the newspaper. The _business_ section.
He looked up when Jane walked in.
“Morning,” he said. Like it was normal. Like he’d done it for years.
“Morning,” Jane said. Her voice was rough.
Aria ran over and hugged her legs. “Dad made pancakes! They’re lumpy.”
Ryan turned, spatula in hand. “They’re artisanal.”
He looked at Jane. Really looked.
Hair a mess. His shirt on her. No makeup.
And he smiled. Small. Tired. Real.
“Did you sleep?” he asked.
“On the couch,” Jane said.
“I know,” Ryan said. “I put the blanket on you.”
The air between them was different.
Because of last night.
_I’m in love with you._
Neither of them mentioned it.
*9:00 AM - The Internet*
By 9 AM, the gala was everywhere.
*VOGUE*: _THE NEW FIRST FAMILY OF FASHION_
*TMZ*: _BILLIONAIRE DECLARES LOVE AT GALA_
*BUSINESS INSIDER*: _STERLING STOCK UP 4% AFTER CEO’S SPEECH_
And then the photo.
Not the red carpet one.
Not the speech.
The back steps.
11:04 PM.
Jane, head on Ryan’s shoulder. His hand in hers.
No cameras. No audience. Just them.
Caption: _IS THIS LOVE OR A $2 BILLION BUSINESS DEAL?_
Comments:
_“They look real.”_
_“She’s using him.”_
_“He’s using her.”_
_“Look at the kids. That’s family.”_
Mira called. “We can take it down.”
Ryan: “No. Let them talk.”
*11:30 AM - The Office*
Ryan had a board meeting.
He brought Aiden.
“Why?” the CFO asked.
“Because he asked to come,” Ryan said. And left it at that.
Aiden sat in the corner with a notebook. Drawing rockets.
Every 10 minutes he’d look up at Ryan.
Ryan would nod. _I see you._
After, one of the board members pulled Ryan aside.
“Smart move last night,” he said. “Very humanizing.”
Ryan’s smile dropped. “It wasn’t a move.”
The man blinked. “Right. Of course.”
*3:00 PM - The Brownstone*
Jane was in her studio. Designing.
Her phone rang. Unknown number.
She almost didn’t answer.
“Hello?”
“Jane.”
Victoria.
Jane hung up.
It rang again.
“Jane, listen to me. You don’t know what you’re doing. He’s going to ruin you like he ruined—”
Click.
Jane blocked the number. Then threw the phone on the couch and cried.
Not because of Victoria.
Because of last night.
Because of _I’m in love with you._
Because she wanted to believe it.
A knock. Soft.
Ryan. He’d come home early.
He saw her face and didn’t ask.
He just sat on the floor next to her.
Didn’t touch her. Just sat.
After a while, Jane whispered, “What did you mean? Last night.”
Ryan exhaled. “I meant that I’ve spent 5 years building an empire and it felt empty. And then I met you again. And it didn’t.”
Jane closed her eyes. “I’m scared.”
“Me too,” Ryan said. “But I’m more scared of not trying.”
*7:00 PM - Dinner*
Pasta. This time Ryan didn’t burn it.
Aria told a story about a princess and a CEO.
Aiden asked if they could go to the planetarium on Saturday.
Ryan said yes immediately.
After, the twins went to bed.
Button curled at Jane’s feet.
Ryan was washing dishes. Jane was drying.
Shoulder to shoulder. Not touching.
“You don’t have to say anything back,” Ryan said quietly. “About last night.”
Jane set the plate down.
“I don’t know what to say,” she admitted. “Because I feel it too. And that terrifies me.”
Ryan nodded. “Then let’s be terrified together.”
Jane looked at him. Really looked.
The man who’d missed 5 years.
The man who was trying.
The man who burned pancakes and read bedtime stories.
She reached out. Took his hand.
Squeezed once.
Ryan didn’t smile. He just squeezed back.
*11:59 PM - The Back Steps*
Same place as last night.
Colder.
Ryan and Jane. No talking.
Just hands. Laced together.
Upstairs, a kid coughed.
Down the street, a car passed.
And for the first time in 5 years, Jane didn’t feel like she was running.
She felt like she was home.