The letter arrived on a Thursday morning, tucked inside an envelope that looked far too formal for anything good. Cole was handed the letter by his residency concierge when he came back from his early run, the bold black font of a law firm's letterhead staring back at him.
By the time he had read it, his jaw was tight, his pulse steady only because years in the ER had taught him how to keep calm in the middle of disaster.
"What does this woman want from me? Why is she bent on squeezing out every available happiness I have.?"
Eliana following through shows she means business.
She had filed a motion for full custody of Sophie.
"WTF..."
---
Alice found him in the kitchen, the letter in front of him, coffee cooling untouched.
"What's that?" she asked.
Cole didn't sugarcoat it. He slid it toward her. "From Eliana's lawyer."
She scanned the neat, impersonal lines, her stomach twisting. "She's serious."
"She's spiteful," Cole corrected. "And this..." he tapped the letter "...is her way of trying to make me pay for moving on. Or for letting Sophie love you." "Whatever it is she is trying to do".
Alice's chest ached. "Cole… maybe it is too much. Me being often here. Being part of her life. I was supposed to be temporary, remember?"
He looked up sharply. "Don't start that."
"I'm just saying maybe the best thing for Sophie is for me to step back before..."
"No." His voice was low but unyielding. "The best thing for Sophie is stability. And you've been part of that since the day you walked through that door. I won't let Eliana take that away from her."
Her breath caught. "Or from you?"
His eyes softened. "From either of us."
With his eyes still on her as if he was carrying out a CT scan with his eyes. He imagined having slow sex with her kissing her still she is out of breath and licking her pussy like he is preparing for gynecology class, his tongue piercing inside her making her want more.
"Come on Cole, this is not the time for this, get a grip" he chided himself.
"I have to prepare for work, everything will be fine so don't worry"
---
Still, his certainty didn't erase the gnawing doubt that had taken root in Alice's chest. That night, while Cole stayed late at the hospital, she found herself moving through the house more quietly, her presence smaller somehow.
She kept thinking to herself "What am I doing here?"
She didn't sit in the living room with Sophie for their usual movie. She let Sophie pick a bedtime story without joining in, kissing her forehead and leaving the room sooner than she normally would.
By the time Cole got home, the kitchen light was off, and Alice was in her room with the door shut.
Cole went close to open the door to speak with her, but changed his mind because he didn't trust himself around her.
---
The next day, Cole called her into his study. The weight of the custody case was already showing in the firm set of his jaw.
"My lawyer says the best thing we can do is present a united front," he said. "In public. At events. Anywhere we might be seen. If Eliana wants to paint this picture of you as some unstable influence in Sophie's life, we need to show the opposite."
Emery folded her arms loosely. "So… we pretend to be what she already thinks we are."
His gaze met hers. "We are what she thinks we are. Just without the label."
The words made her pulse trip, but she forced herself to focus. "And what kind of events are we talking about?"
"There's a hospital fundraiser Saturday night. Big one. Eliana's on the guest list." "Plus my company is the top sponsor and you get to meet my brother"
Alice felt her stomach dip. "And you want me to be there?"
"I want you on my arm," he said simply.
---
Saturday came really fast like it was dragged in.
Alice stood in front of her mirror, smoothing the fabric of the dark green dress she'd borrowed from a friend. It hugged her in places she didn't often let anyone notice. Her hair was loose, a soft wave framing her face. She looked… different. Too aware of herself.
When Cole came to the doorway, already in a black suit, his eyes paused on her for a fraction too long. "You look…" He stopped, cleared his throat. "Perfect."
---
The fundraiser was held in the glittering ballroom of a downtown hotel, all chandeliers and champagne flutes. Cole's hand rested lightly on the small of her back as they moved through the crowd, their steps in sync.
People greeted him by name other doctors, board members, and donors, and each time, he introduced her without hesitation.
"This is Alice. My partner."
The word made her heart skip. Partner. Not "friend," not "guest," not "Sophie's sitter." Partner.
She smiled where appropriate, laughed softly at polite jokes, and nodded through small talk. But each time she caught her reflection in one of the tall mirrors lining the walls, she saw something else, a woman pretending to be something she wasn't.
By the time she resumed work, the hospital would be buzzing about her 'fake' relationship with Cole.
---
Halfway through the evening, she excused herself to the balcony for some air. The city lights stretched out below, glittering against the night sky. She gripped the railing, trying to steady her thoughts.
She didn't want to compete with the ghost of a woman who had left. She didn't want to be measured against what Cole and Eliana had been once upon a time.
She was just a stand-in.
Just then she noticed someone at the far end of the balcony.
In a startled voice "Oh! You scared me, so sorry I didn't realize anyone was here."
"Glad I was here because for a minute I thought you were going to jump"
"Me? No! I am just trying to escape the scene in there"
"Not your usual scene huh?
"Apparently so"
The door opened behind her. She didn't have to turn to know it was Cole.
"You disappeared," he said, stepping beside her.
"Just needed a minute."
"I see you have met my brother, Ethan. I thought you weren't here yet"
"I arrived early to meet with investors. Hello, I am Ethan Kingston, his brother" he stretched his hand towards her with a broad smile. "You are?"
"Alice Blake" It is nice meeting you
"Who are you to my brother?"
"We are..."
Before she could reply, Cole interjected.
"She is my partner..."
"Partner? Interesting. I hear you are being sued by your ex-wife"
"Yes, So?"
"Just don't let it affect our shares in the stock market. By the way, how is my niece?"
"If you travelled less and came to see her for yourself instead of sending gifts and postcards to her."
Ethan laughed and both brothers hugged and exchanged more jabs at each other.
Alice watched on and saw love and brotherhood that was unique.
"Alice, I am I can't stay to chat more because I have meetings to attend to. I hope we meet for lunch or something and catch up."
'Sure, I would love that"
"Settled then. Gotta run. Don't let this sore face wear you out"
Alice let out a laugh which made Cole look at her.
"Bye.."
"See you soon"
While Ethan walked away. Cole and Alice faced each other.
His gaze searched her face. "You've been… somewhere else all night."
She hesitated, then let the words out. "I don't belong in your world, Cole. Not really. I'm just here until..."
He cut her off, his voice firm. "Stop saying that."
"It's true. I'm not Sophie's mom. I'm not your..."
Before she could finish, his hand was on her cheek, and then his mouth was on hers.
---
The kiss wasn't careful this time. It was warm and grounding, his other hand finding her waist, drawing her closer until she felt the steady beat of his heart under his suit jacket. Alice let out a soft moan while they explored each other's mouths with their tongue.
When they finally broke apart, the city noise seemed distant.
"Cole…" she began, but he stepped back just enough to meet her eyes.
"Tell me that felt like nothing," he said quietly.
She couldn't. So she said nothing at all.
---
When they returned to the ballroom, people noticed. Heads turned. And Alice realized they were no longer just playing a role. They looked like like everything they were pretending to be.
Eliana noticed too. She was across the room, in a silver dress that shimmered under the lights, her expression cool as she watched them. When their eyes met, she smiled but it wasn't kind.
---
On Monday morning, another letter arrived.
This time, Cole didn't let Alice read it. He skimmed it, his mouth tightening.
"She's doubling down," he said. "She's claiming Sophie is being 'emotionally manipulated' and that you're creating confusion about parental roles."
Alice's stomach sank. "Cole?.."
"No," he said firmly. "She's not taking you out of Sophie's life. She's not taking Sophie from me. I don't care if I have to stand in that courtroom tomorrow and tell the world we're a family. I'll do it."
Her throat felt tight. "You will do that? Even if it means crossing a line we can't uncross?"
He held her gaze. "Some lines are worth crossing."
---
That night, long after Sophie was asleep, Alice sat in bed staring at the ceiling, her thoughts tangled.
She had come here to help. To fill a role.
But somewhere along the way, she had stopped acting.
And if Cole kept looking at her and kissing her the way he had on that balcony…
She wasn't sure she would want to pretend anymore.