Adrien Carter adjusted his tie in the mirrored glass of the Carter Enterprises elevator, now etched with his name beneath hers.
Vice President. Twenty-two. Graduate with honors. Forbes 30 under 30. The man who walked with power but still answered every call labeled "Mommy."
The doors slid open.
"Adrien!" Ava launched herself at him before he could take a full step out. In 5-inch heels, in a custom-tailored dress, still smelling like expensive perfume and Chanel ambition—but she buried her face in his chest like he was still her little boy.
"You're home," she mumbled, squeezing him. "I missed you. My baby's all grown up and leaves me all alone in this big empire."
"Mom," Adrien laughed, pulling her tighter anyway, "I was literally upstairs doing audits."
"Exactly. Upstairs. Not with me."
From across the lounge, Alex looked up from his laptop and chuckled. "He's literally the vice president of the company."
Ava turned her head—still clinging to Adrien—"And you're still jealous I love him more."
Adrien smirked. "Sorry, Dad."
Alex mock-sighed. "This is my life."
But when Ava turned back to Adrien and cupped his cheeks, ignoring his grown-man protests, the truth was… no one in that room would trade places with anyone else in the world.
People watched them as they walked out of meetings. The golden boy with his arm slung around his mother's shoulder, Ava clinging to him and fussing with his collar.
"Is that his mom?"
"She looks twenty-five—how??"
"I heard she built the company from scratch and raised him alone."
"They're adorable, I swear. Did you see how he kissed her forehead? And how she pinched his cheek??"
Adrien would groan, but never stop her. Not really. Because she was still his safe place. Still the woman who showed up to campus in red-bottom heels and made the world freeze.
Still the mother who kissed him goodnight every chance she got.
And he let her.
Because Ava Carter wasn't just the CEO.
She was his world.
And somewhere behind them, watching the two people he once lost and fought so hard to earn back, Alex Carter smiled like a man who knew what redemption tasted like.