A mother who hides a child among boxes does not deserve to keep her,” said Veronika Pavlivna, the restaurant manager and the mother of my ex-husband. “As soon as Mr. Zorenko wakes up, you’re fired.”

The engagement announcement sent a ripple of pleasant shock through the staff of Zorenko’s House, but unlike the malicious gossip of the past, this news was met with universal joy and celebration. Cook Nazar baked a three-tier honey cake decorated with spun sugar and delicate Petrykivka flowers, and the entire kitchen staff toasted our future with glasses of the restaurant’s finest sparkling wine.

Yet, a lingering loose end remained.

Two weeks after the gala, a registered letter arrived at the restaurant address. It was from Artem Salohub.

I stared at the thick white envelope with my name written in Artem’s messy handwriting. A cold knot briefly formed in my stomach, instincts screaming of past betrayal and court battles. I took it down to Sebastian’s office—our office now, as I spent most of my time down there with him when Milana was napping upstairs.

Sebastian looked up from his desk, saw the envelope in my hand, and instantly rose. He walked over, took the letter from my fingers, and tossed it unceremoniously onto the corner of his desk.

— You don't have to read it, Marina, — he said gently, taking my hands in his. — His lawyer already settled the child support arrears. His mother left the city for her sister's village in the Carpathians after losing her job and social standing. Artem has no leverage left.

— I know, — I said, taking a deep breath. — But I want to close this chapter completely. Once and for all.

With trembling fingers, I picked up the letter and tore open the flap. Inside was a single sheet of cheap lined paper.

Marina,

I know I don’t have the right to ask for anything. My mother was wrong, and I was a coward for listening to her. I lost my apartment, my job at the import firm, and my pride. I just wanted to say... I’m sorry. I hope you and the little one can find happiness, because I clearly ruined mine.

Artem.

I read the lines twice, feeling neither anger nor sadness. Just a profound, empty silence where the old wounds used to be. The man who had once terrorized my life was now just a ghost of a difficult past.

I folded the paper, walked over to the small fireplace in the corner of the office, and dropped it into the grate. A single match later, Artem’s apology turned into ash and drifted up the chimney into the night sky.

Sebastian wrapped his arms around me from behind, resting his chin on my shoulder as we watched the flames die down.