Marcus Thorne had planned to walk away from his career quietly, but at 11:52 p.m., standing in the corner office of the most intimidating woman in downtown Seattle, he uttered the one phrase no subordinate ever says to their boss.

Six months later.

The rain had finally cleared in Seattle, giving way to a brilliant, unseasonably warm afternoon. The Harbor Point groundbreaking ceremony was in full swing. Press, city officials, and executives milled around the massive construction site.

Marcus stood near the podium, looking out at the massive steel beams that were finally rising from the dirt. It was his design, brought to life.

He felt a hand slide into his.

Evelyn stood beside him, no longer hiding her warmth behind a mask of ice. She wore a bright, tailored coat, looking relaxed and radiant.

"You built a beautiful thing, Marcus," she said, squeezing his hand.

"We built it," he corrected, pulling her slightly closer.

A sudden squeal interrupted them. Sophie, wearing a tiny yellow hard hat and covered in dirt, came sprinting across the VIP enclosure.

"Evie! Evie!" Sophie yelled, crashing into Evelyn’s legs.

Evelyn didn't hesitate. She picked the six-year-old up, disregarding the dirt getting on her expensive coat, and kissed her cheek. "Did you inspect the dirt pile, bug?"

"It's perfect," Sophie declared solemnly. "The castle is going to be really strong."

Marcus watched them, his heart incredibly full. He thought back to that desperate, rain-soaked night in Evelyn’s office, when he thought he had lost everything. He had walked in with a resignation letter, expecting the Ice Monarch to cut him loose.

Instead, she had followed him home, built a fortress around his family, and loved them fiercely enough to melt the ice.

Evelyn caught him staring. She smiled, a soft, secret thing meant only for him. "What are you thinking about, Mr. Thorne?"