Page 125 of Triplet Babies for my Ex's Best Friend

“Ethan—”

We stop.

Same moment, same instinct.

Her eyes flick down briefly, then back up. My pulse kicks up a notch, and I can already feel everything I’ve just said slipping away…

My phone rings, shattering the moment of tension.

Sara.

I don’t look away from Addy as I answer. “What?”

“There’s been a change,” Sara says immediately. “The demo instability isn’t isolated.”

My focus shifts instantly. “How widespread?”

“We’re seeing pattern inconsistencies across multiple sequences. It’s not random.”

That’s worse. “Send me everything.”

“It’s already updating to your system. Ethan…” a pause, then, “this could affect the gala.”

“Not if I fix it first.”

“I thought you’d say that.”

“I’ll be back shortly.”

I end the call, and the room reorients.

Addy is still standing in front of me, the tension present.

“I have to go,” I say.

She nods. “Work.”

“Yes.”

“We’re… okay?”

I smile. “Yes.”

She studies me. Then nods. “Okay.”

I move past her, opening the door.

Control. Structure. Work.

As I step back into the hallway, Oliver’s voice carries from the living room. “Dad! The airport crashed!”

“Then rebuild it,” I reply.

Because that’s the only option.

It always has been.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE