The media request came from The Architect, a high-profile design and culture magazine that rarely did profiles—especially not joint ones.

They wanted Aria and Mira.

The headline was already in draft:

“Legacy & Lightning: The Women Rebuilding Design From the Ashes”

It was a massive opportunity.

National. Serious. Smart.
And—Mira insisted—Dom-free.

“No Dominic,” she said flatly, during a prep call.
“Not in the photos. Not in the story. Not even a mention.”

Aria sat with that for a second.

“Why?”

“Because this isn’t about the man you walked away from and took back. This is about us. And the story they want? It isn’t going to stay ours if his name is in it.”

Aria didn’t argue.

Because again… Mira wasn’t wrong.

But it still hit a nerve.

That night, Aria told Dominic on the balcony of her apartment. Wine in her hand, guilt in her mouth.

“They don’t want you in it.”

He nodded slowly. No anger. Just awareness.

“Is that what you want too?” he asked.

“No,” she said quietly. “But I think it’s what I need to do.”

Dominic stared out at the city. Then, after a pause, turned to her.

“I didn’t come back into your life to be at the center of your story.

I came back to make sure you are.”

Aria looked away, throat tight.

“They’re not wrong to want space from you. From us. You were part of the machine we’re all trying to take apart.”

“And that machine almost ate both of us,” he said. “So if being out of the spotlight is the cost of your movement staying clean—then dim me. Erase me. I’m not here to be remembered. I’m here to make sure you are.”

She kissed him then.

Not like a grand gesture.

Just a quiet, solid answer.

The interview went live two weeks later.

Mira stood strong. Sharp. Brilliant.

Aria stood beside her—not above, not in front.

No Dominic.

No mention of Hale. Of deals. Of scandals.

Just two women.
Two timelines.
One future.

But somewhere, in a quiet studio at night, Aria pinned one photo to her board.

It wasn’t from the article.

It was one Dominic had taken of her sketching, years ago, before anyone knew her name.

Captionless.
Private.

But full of the reason she still believed in building.