Month Two: Week Six
Sera was six weeks old and finally sleeping for three-hour stretches.
Isla felt almost human. Almost functional. Almost capable of running an empire again instead of just surviving motherhood.
She'd started working from the office two days a week. Mara watching Sera at the apartment. Catherine handling daily operations. Isla focusing on strategic decisions.
It was working. Barely. But working.
Until Tuesday afternoon when everything shattered.
Isla was in a meeting with Dmitri when Luca burst in. No knock. His face pale.
"Mrs. Archer. We have a situation."
"What kind of situation?"
"There's a woman downstairs. Claiming to be Mrs. Archer. Claiming to be Killian's wife. Demanding to see you."
Ice flooded Isla's veins. "What?"
"She has documents. Marriage certificate. Photos. Everything. She's claiming—" Luca stopped. "She's claiming your marriage to Killian is invalid. That he was already married when he married you."
