Million Dollar Hush Money: I Want Divorce

of the oversized velvet sofa in the master bedroom, her posture rigid, her spine not touching the cushions. The antique grandfather cl

ave for the "merger closing," he had forgotten it on the vanity. He likely assumed she wouldn't know the passc

at had bypassed his usual privacy filter

nightstand. I'll keep i

ate intrusion into her reality. Lily knew the cade

ir for a split second before the room plunged back into shadow. The low, guttural growl of a

table. Her fingers were trembling. She clasped them together in her lap, squeezing until the knuckles turned white,

th a metallic click that sounded

ound his trench coat. He didn't look at her. He didn't look at the bed where she should have

ath it all, the cloying, sandalwood sweetness of Le Labo Santal 33. Seren

as he emerged from the closet, shrugging off his suit jacket. It was a reflex, a muscle memory honed over

t m

was so sharp, so deliberate, it felt like a physical blow. He

evoid of affection, devoid of anger. It was th

cond, grasping at nothing. She slowly lowered them

spered. The words felt

sing them onto the dresser. Clink. Cli

canned her face, her silk nightgown, her bare feet, evaluating her appearance with the detac

a question of concern. It was an accusation. "Y

was dying. Piece by piece, cell by cell, she was dis

e unbuttoned his collar, exposing the hollow of his throat. "St

y. A moment later, the shower turned on, a torrent of water hitting the tiles. He was wa

e didn't need to lean down; the scent was potent. It was a terri

bunch beneath her hands. She waited. That was her life now. Waiting for h

ter st

hest hair, sliding down his defined abs. He was beautiful in a cruel, statuesque way. He

saw a flicker of something-guilt? Exhaustion? But

t. When he entered her, it wasn't lovemaking. It was a transaction. It was a biological release executed with the efficiency of

he counted the leaves in the pattern. One, two, three. She bit the inside of her cheek until she taste

reached for the pack of cigarettes on the nightstand. The flare of the lighter illumin

r escaped the corner of her eye, tracking hot and fast into her hairlin

ne. His thumbs moved ra

zed on her bedside table. The vi

r hand shaking. A noti

t (Spousal Sub-Account). Amount: $1,000,000.0

e. Money she could see, but couldn't touch without his countersignat

... patient lately. Request the authorization tomorrow. Go buy yourself some jewelry.

money. It was a fee for services rendered. He was paying her for the se

llars didn't make her feel rich. It made her fee

id, her voice b

ng up. He stubbed out the cigarette and didn't lo

closed be

. Something inside her chest, a tension wire that had been pulled taut for three agonizing

idn't cry. The tears had dried up. In