RUTLED

ay streamers sagged from the chandeliers, and a faint, sweet smell of stale perfume hung in the air. I woke late the

ing breakfast, as she always did, even after my worst indiscretions. The table

I intended. The chaos of the house, usually a source of cripplin

s. Rutledge, sir? I haven' t s

irritation rising. "I mean

is morning. She said she wouldn' t be returning." She gestured to a neatly fo

t. Not really. She always came back. A prickle of annoyance, then a str

pulled out a pair of disposable gloves from my pocket, slipping them on with practiced ease before touching the documents

he top sheet. "D

liar, elegant signatur

tes rattling. She was divorcing me? Her? After everything I had put up with? The public humiliation, the constant cleani

a moment. She dared to leave me? This w

g through the quiet house. "Send every

ad of security appeared, his face

orce me! I didn' t sign these! She can' t just leave without my permission!" I grabbed the papers, tearing th

ediately, sir." He barked orders into his comms system,

old dread began to seep into my bones. For the first time, I felt a tremor in my perfectly ordered world. A s

ut, my fingers still trembling slightly. It

Settlement agreed upo

t I hadn't signed anything! I' d just torn u

had actually been submitted. A cold, creeping realization began to dawn. That day, when Ava present

f legal counsel, a terse command a

silk robe clinging to her curves, her hair a beautifu

ds me. She threw her arms around my neck, pressing her bod

didn't return her embrace, merely patting her back. "Nothi

finally leave? Good riddance. Now, can you make me breakfast? I' m

ht, the comparison, was unavoidable. Ava would never demand breakfast like that, especially not

heard myself say, the words escaping before I cou

pulled back slightly, her lower lip trembling. "What? Killian, are you... are

melting my irritation into a tide of guilt and devotion. Bu

f course not. I' m just... stressed. From work. I' ll make sure you get your crepes." I sq