nto my hospital room as if he were

it and gripping a leather briefca

st the linoleum. He didn't ask how I was feeling. "This situation... it's m

ected, my gaze fixed

a. I know you're hurt. But we need to be practical. I can't have you r

eckbook. With a flourish, he scribbled something

it. Five mil

Take a vacation. Go to Zurich for a few months. When you co

our marriage were a

can buy my si

r cooperation. I'm willing to be generous, Elana. But

between my fingers. Five million dollars. Th

in half. The

What are you doing? That

y calm. I reached into my bedside drawer and pulled out the cr

t signi

to the press. 'CEO Pushes Pregnant Wife to Protect

him. For the first time in o

tantrum, fine. We'll separate for a year. But don't come crawlin

y, jagged strokes, the

ap

ic," I

he reflection of the window. "You're making

ne rang. He answer

ha

the arrogance drained ou

ueprints are gone?" he s

t, then looked at me wi

show access from my acc

s happening. He had given Hayden his passwo

g up. He looked at me, distracted. "

he room. He didn

as the last time he

a spike of agony through my back, b

e house. It was emp

I didn't pack clothes

nto it. The wedding photos. The gifts he had given me to apologize for missed a

e curb. I left it there

itectural portfolio. The only thing

e buzze

" she said. "I have a car waiting

more sure of an

aced it on the console table, right next to the ripped piece

rain had stopped. The

eppe

sn't my home. It was just a building w

o the wai

ort," I told

ed the city recede. I watched the skyline where Emilio's

lat stomach. A

ticket from my pock

cross the road. But ahead, in the distance,

hispered to the wind.

for the first time i