Page 93 of Velvet Corruption

Julian rolled his eyes with a dramatic sigh. “Your mother is raising a little liar.”

“You wound me,” I said, pressing a hand to my chest. “Besides, she got that from you.”

Julian smirked but didn’t argue. Instead, he gestured toward the park, where Sloan and Camille were waiting at a picnic table, Eva already waving excitedly at Rosie. I took a deep breath and started walking. Seeing the mayor and his wife wasn’t my idea of a good time, but this was important.

I liked Camille enough, but after Sloane had decided to throw a special election instead of appoint someone as interim DA, I had soured on him. He did it all for the optics, and I was the one suffering because of it.

“Thank you for being here,” I said as I walked next to Julian.

“It looks good for me if I'm friends with the mayor too,” he replied, not unkindly.

“Your self-interest never ceases to surprise me.”

“It’s good that I can still surprise you,” he said.

I needed to be present. To let myself breathe.

“I’m trying,” I said. “Really.”

And I was. I really was. I let myself relax into the day, into the feeling of having Rosie and Julian close, the sound of the city waking up around us. Everything felt sharper, more defined, more immediate when I let go of the thoughts pulling me under.

Sloan and his wife, Camille, were already waiting at a picnic table, watching Rosie play with Ava.

Camille’s eyes flickered over me the way only a friend’s did—like she was checking for cracks. She knew I wasn’t fine.

I watched the children with them, a small swell of relief easing through me. There was something grounding about seeing Rosie so carefree, so full of life. I wanted to bottle that feeling, carry it with me into the days when I knew things wouldn’t be this easy. But for now, I let myself breathe. I let myself enjoy it.

They both jumped into the same pile of leaves, squealing.

“Okay, well, that’s adorable,” Julian muttered beside me. “I take it back. You look fine.”

“Thanks,” I said dryly.

Rosie’s laughter echoed around the park, Ava’s bright squeals mixing in like a perfect harmony. It was the sound of normalcy, of stability. Of everything I was trying to hold onto.

Camille saw us and waved, her smile wide and welcoming. She looked effortlessly elegant, even in jeans and a simple sweater, her long hair falling in a cascade of dark waves. She had a way ofmaking you feel at home, even in a place as open and sprawling as the city park.

“It’s good to see you,” she said, pulling me into a loose hug. Her voice was warm, genuine, and for a moment, I let myself lean into it, let myself forget everything else.

Sloan’s grin was easy, practiced. The kind of smile that had won him the city, that made you believe him, trust him, even if you shouldn’t.

“Hey, Julian,” he said. “Ruby. Looks like the girls have it all figured out.”

“It’s getting the adults to catch up that’s the problem,” Julian replied with a chuckle. “How are you two?”

The conversation flowed as we settled in. Campaign updates, city politics, Rosie and Ava’s latest school antics. Safe topics, things I could wrap my head around without feeling the ground shift beneath my feet.

“It’s nice to get the girls together before things get really crazy,” Camille said, brushing a stray curl from her face, diamond ring glinting on her index finger.

I nodded, knowing exactly what she meant. Crazy meant the end of election season. It meant I wouldn’t have time for mornings like this, wouldn’t have time to just be with my daughter, let her be a kid. It meant speeches, fundraisers, debates. It meant more time spent holding my breath and hoping I could keep everything from falling apart.

“It’s good to see you, too,” I said, pushing the thought away. For now, this was enough. For now, this was everything.

Sloan gestured toward the table, where a neatly arranged spread of pastries and coffee waited. “I hope you don’t mind,” he said. “Camille insisted we bring something.”

Julian chuckled, settling onto the bench across from him. “Camille, you spoil us.”

“I do my best,” she said, flashing a wry smile.

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