is cufflinks. He turned around slowl

did yo

tcase. "I said, draw it yourse

rm to stop me. His grip was tight, landing directly on the patch of s

nd blinding. I yanked my arm bac

y sleeve, revealing the angry red skin, blistering at the

again, but stopped short of tou

ing back. "The one you ca

ker of something that looked like guilt passed over his face, but

ng about the hotel wate

r up. She was hysterical. I couldn't

said quietly. "You j

hind me. I needed a minute. My leg was throbbing, the adre

ulian pounded on the wood.

he steam fill the room. I stripped off my clothe

earm, my thigh. Patches of angry red, w

The water was too hot. It h

g back. My foot slipp

t dow

breath was knocked out of me. A cry of pain

AS

r burst open. Th

ept over the room and landed on me, curled nak

ond, nobo

the extent of the damage for the first tim

e word was a s

er soaking his expensive suit pants. He reached for

I screamed, push

-so careful-not to touch the burns on my neck. "You're hurt

!" I sobbed. The fight

oor. I squeezed my eyes shut, hating the fact that his arms still felt s

et and grabbed the first aid kit. His hands, usually so steady when s

" I said, try

But there was no anger

ply. He had never done this. I had nursed him through flu, through hangov

ed, his eyes fixed on

an excuse, Julian

re storm-dark. "I am your husband. I

eal is

ere the folder Sarah had given m

ETTLEMENT

on the bed

nt blank. The panic vanished, replaced by a cold, h

joke?" he a

look like

ou're divorcing me? Because of a

marriage, Julian. I have b

harsh, cruel sound. H

career. No family. No money. You think the world is

ake my

Waiting for me to apologize and beg for fo

blink, his p

apers in half.

onfetti rain down on the bed. "You're upset. Yo

ever been

hone

the tension like a knife.

re

at him. "

ely

ulian. Show m