Read Chapter 19: — BACK TO THE VIADUCT

Returning after leave was stranger than Daniel expected.

The site looked the same. The city traffic still honked beneath the temporary decking. The morning briefing still began at six. Toby still arrived with coffee he claimed was essential to structural integrity.

Only Graham had changed.

Or perhaps Daniel had.

Every ordinary exchange carried a second meaning now.

“Pier 47 survey is out by four millimetres.”

“Correct it.”

“Already done.”

“Good.”

Father and son, discussing millimetres.

It was absurd.

Maya seemed delighted by the new reality and tried not to show it.

“You know,” she said one evening, “technically I’m your sister.”

“Adoptive sister.”

“Still counts.”

“You have been waiting to say that.”

“For weeks.”

Toby, who had learned the truth under a solemn promise of secrecy, looked between them.

“This explains why Mr Bennett hates me.”

Daniel frowned. “How?”

“I’m friends with both his children. Statistically I’m now the greatest threat to his peace.”

Maya laughed.

The viaduct package reached completion with no major incidents. When final geometry checks passed, Graham gathered the team beneath the first completed span.

He did not give a speech.

He looked up at the concrete, then at the engineers.

“Well done.”

Silence.

Toby’s mouth fell open.

Graham glared. “Don’t make me regret it.”

The spell broke. Everyone laughed.

Daniel watched the older man walk away and realised he no longer felt only anger.

Anger was still there.

So was curiosity.

And beneath both, something dangerously close to affection.