Kian chuckled softly, shaking his head as he stepped into the bathroom, moving easily, naturally—like he belonged here, like he wasn't disrupting anything at all.
She hadn't changed.
His Chloe still flushed easily, still got flustered when caught off guard—even if she tried to bury it under clipped sarcasm and straight spines.
And something about that—about the fact that underneath all her sharp edges she was still her—stuck with him.
By the time Kian emerged, fresh from his bath, he paused—caught off guard but not surprised.
Chloe was already at the table, fingers curled around a coffee mug, Carter beside her, legs swinging as he spooned cereal into his mouth.
Kian exhaled lightly, leaning against the counter.
"Do you have any plans today?"
Chloe glanced at him.
Then—casual, indifferent, calculated.
"Yeah. Visiting Mikael at his office."
Kian nodded once. "I'll drive you there."
Chloe didn't react—not immediately—but he caught the flicker of hesitation before
she masked it.
"Bringing Carter with you?"
She frowned slightly. "Of course. He's my son. Who else would bring him?"
Kian smirked.
"Me."
Chloe blinked.
Kian shrugged. "I can look after him if you have things to do at your brother's company. Or I can come with you both."
Chloe inhaled sharply, suppressing irritation.
Was he thinking straight?
Then—before she could hold back the sharp edge in her tone, she threw the inevitable question.
"Planning to bring Carter with you? Aren't you afraid your girlfriend—or maybe your wife—will be jealous?"
Kian chuckled softly, shaking his head as if completely unbothered.
Then—without hesitation.
"So, what now? Jealous?"
Chloe stiffened.
Then—flat, controlled.
"Stop it, Ashford. Why would I be? I was just thinking about your convenience."
Kian tilted his head slightly, amusement flickering. "Wait. Chloe, are you worried?"
Her fingers twitched around her mug.
Already annoyed, already impatient, she exhaled sharply, setting down her cup with deliberate ease.
"Whatever you say."
Then—sharp, final—"I'm bringing Carter with me to meet Mikael. And we'll probably go home later."
And just like that—she shut the door on the conversation.
But Kian didn't mind.
Because she hadn't said no to him being there.
And that was a start.