“Fine,” I said, my voice steady for the first time since I’d walked in. “I’ll sign your papers.”
Relief flickered across both their faces.
“But I want to say goodbye to Ava first.”
“I don’t think—” Bianca started.
“She’s still my daughter,” I said with quiet steel. “Legally, if nothing else. I have that right.”
Damon nodded reluctantly. I knelt down to Ava again, memorizing every detail of her face—the way her nose crinkled when she was confused, the stubborn set of her jaw she’d inherited from me, the dark eyes that were pure Damon.
“I love you, little star,” I whispered, using the pet name I’d called her since birth. “I will always love you, no matter what.”
Something flickered in her eyes—a moment of recognition, perhaps a buried memory of countless nights when I’d tucked her in with those exact words.
“I have to go away for a while,” I continued, my voice breaking despite my efforts to stay strong. “But someday, when you’re older, I hope you’ll remember that I loved you enough to let you be happy.”
I kissed her forehead, breathing in her familiar scent one last time, then stood and walked to the door without looking back.
“Elise,” Damon called as I reached for the handle.
I turned, hope flaring despite everything.
“Don’t make this messy,” he said coldly. “Sign the papers, take the settlement, and disappear. It’s better for everyone this way.”
The hope died, replaced by something harder and infinitely more dangerous.
“You’re right,” I said softly. “It is better this way. For everyone.”
