Chapter 58

• "Yes, Ethan and I have been talking, and we agree it would be beneficial for Rosie to see the both of us more often. We're considering having a weekly dinner, just the three of us, to maintain a stable family presence for her." Elise's eyes glimmered as she smiled, running a perfectly manicured hand through her newly dyed blonde hair. Perhaps she felt the need for a fresh start after everything that transpired. A makeover seemed like one way to achieve that. Attempting to reconnect with her ex was apparently another option. "There's something different about him now. I'm starting to realize just how foolish I was to ever let him go, and I have this feeling that our story might not be completely over yet."
• Nathalie nodded and offered a faint smile, speech eluding her. What had transpired over the break? Was Elise perceiving something nonexistent, or was Ethan not being entirely truthful with her? The moment Elise exited her classroom, Nathalie instinctively reached for her phone to text him. However, her attention was quickly demanded by the influx of students and parents entering the room. She didn't find another free moment until lunch, and by then, uncertainty clouded her decision to bring up the conversation. What if mentioning it to him only made him realize he wanted to rekindle his relationship with Elise?
• Nathalie scolded herself for being irrational. Ethan had moved on from someone who repeatedly betrayed his trust and even questioned Rosie's paternity. Even if their relationship didn't last, Nathalie doubted he'd want to revisit that turbulent past. Yet, the thought lingered in her mind, causing distractions throughout her day—a situation the Tomas brothers took advantage of, mischievously hiding all her pens without her noticing. Their antics felt amusing rather than infuriating, and she laughed along, grateful when they revealed the pens' hiding spots out of sympathy.