<b>Chapter </b><b>56 </b>


    -HUNTER-


    Laughter pulls me from sleep, a sound so foreign in my life that it jerks me awake instantly. My eyes stap to the bedside <b>clocks </b>7:30 AM. I never sleep thiste.


    I throw the covers off and make my way to the living room, still groggy. It’s empty, but the front door stands slightly ajar.


    Theughter continues from outside…a woman’s melodic tones mixed with a child’s excited squeals.


    Following the sound, I step onto the porch. The sight before me stops me in my tracks,


    Celine and Caesar are in theke, sshing in the shallow water near the shore..


    The morning sun catches in her wet hair, creating a halo effect as she tosses Caesar gently into the air. Herugh is touchy–feely and carefree<b>, </b>nothing like the reserved smiles she gives at the mansion.


    I find myself drawn forward, walking along the wooden bridge that extends into the water, Caesar spots me first, his little face lighting up.


    “Hunter!” he <b>calls </b>out, waving enthusiastically. “Water!”


    Celine’s head whips around, her smile faltering slightly when she sees me. She submerges deeper into the water, suddenly conscious of her thin t–shirt clinging to her body.


    “Mr. Reid….I mean, Hunter,” she stammers. “We just thought we’d take a quick dip before breakfast. Caesar woke up early and saw theke from the window. I hope that’s okay<b>, </b>we didn’t mean to…”


    “Isn’t it too cold for swimming?” I cut her off, focusing on Caesar rather than the way water droplets slide down Celine’s neck. “You could get sick.”


    “It’s not that bad once you’re in,” she replies, regaining someposure. “And I… I wanted to swim here. I might never get another chance<b>.</b>”


    Her words make me frown. Why would she think that? Did she believe this kindness <b>was </b>a one–time urrence?


    Before I can think better of it, I’m pulling my t–shirt over my head.


    “What are you doing?” Celine’s eyes widen.


    “Swimming.” I answer simply, not missing how her gaze lingers on my chest before she quickly looks away.


    I dive into the water, the cold shocking my system awake. When I surface, Caesar is paddling toward me, arms outstretched andughing. I lift him onto my shoulders, steadying his small body as he giggles and ps at the water.


    “Higher!” he demands, and I oblige, bouncing him gently.


    Celine watches us from a few feet away, creating distance whenever I swim closer. She’s avoiding me, and I don’t like it.


    “Come on, Caesar,” I say. “Let’s get <b>your </b>mom.”


    Caesar squeals in delight as we advance on Celine. I reach out, grabbing her waist and pulling her closer. She gasps, her hands instinctivelynding on my shoulders to steady herself. I can feel her warmth even through the cold water.


    <b>1/3 </b>


    “Attack!” I toll Caesar, and we bolli ssh water at her.


    Her surprise transforms intoughter, rich and genuine. She retaliates, sending a wave of water into myce, sputter dram making Caesar howl withughter.


    I can’t remember thest time Iughed like this. Actuallyughed, not the polite chuckle I use at bosiness functions The realization is jarring.


    In this moment, water dripping from her eyshes, cheeks flushed with joy, guardpletely down, Celine is breathtaking ind myself moving closer, drawn by something I can’t resist.


    Water trickles down her face. Without thinking, I brush my thumb across her lower lip, wiping away a droplet. Her breath catches eyes widening. I’m so close I can see the tiny flecks of gold in her brown irises.


    “Hunter?” she whispers, the question hanging between us.


    “Mommy! Hunter! Look at me!” Caesar’s voice breaks the spell as he sshes between us. I step back, the moment shattered.


    Celine turns away quickly. “… I should get breakfast started,” she says, not meeting my eyes. “And get ready for when Caroline


    <bes </b>


    She wades to shore, wrapping a towell around herself. I watch her retreating figure, noticing how her footsteps quicken as she approaches the cabin, as if she can’t get away from me fast enough.


    I stand there in the water, staring at the empty space where she stood.


    “Mommy gone?” Caesar asks, his small face suddenly <b>sad</b>,


    “Yeah, she is,” I reply, feeling an echo of his disappointment.


    I lift him higher on my shoulders, trying to refocus on the child, but my eyes keep drifting to the cabin where Celine has disappeared.


    What am I doing? She works for <b>me</b><b>. </b>She’s a single mother struggling to provide for her son. I shouldn’t be ying family with them at myke house, blurring lines that need to stay clear,


    Yet something about them, about <b>her</b>…keeps pulling at me, cracking the walls I’ve carefully built around myself. <fn9600> Original content can be found at find?novel</fn9600>


    <b>was </b>


    as thest time I felt this… alive? This present in a moment?


    Caesar tugs at my hair. “Hunter sad?”


    I look up at him, struck by how perceptive children can be. “No, buddy. I’m not sad.”


    But I am. Sad that in a few hours, we’ll go back to the real world. Back to being employer and employee. Back to the cold, empty mansion where I’ll have no excuse to see herugh like that again.


    “Let’s go see what your mom’s making fopbreakfast,” I suggest, wading toward shore.


    Caesar nods enthusiastically. “Pancakes Mommy makes the best pancakes.”


    I swing him off my shoulders and set Him on the sand, watching as he runs ahead, leaving wet footprints behind him. Something about those small impressions in the sand affects me deeply.


    14:58 : Fri, 1 Aug G v v


    Temporary marks that will be washed away with the next tide, just like this brief interlude of normalcy in my otherwise sterile life.


    I grab my discarded t–shirt, not bothering to put it on as I follow Caesar’s path to the cabin. Inside, I can hear Celine moving around the kitchen, the tter of pans and the smell of coffee filling the air.


    For just a moment, Llet myself imagine what it would be like if this were real. If I woke up every morning toughter and pancakes and a woman whose smile makes me forget who I’m supposed to be.


    It’s a dangerous thought. One I need to bury before it takes root.


    I am Hunter Reid. I don’t do family. I don’t do vulnerability. I don’t let my guard down.


    Except I just did, in thatke. And it felt more right than anything has in a very long time.


    I take a deep breath, squaring my shoulders before I enter the kitchen. Time to put the mask back on. Time to remember who I am and why walls are <b>necessary</b>.


    But as I step inside and see Celine’s quick, nervous nce in my direction, I wonder if those walls are keeping others out–or keeping me trapped inside.


    ?