office was on the thirtieth floor of a glass skyscraper, affording a view of the en

ning her prenuptial agreement

calm and even. "I want to prepare the papers now,

with professional sympathy. "Of course, Mrs. Santos. We

ped at a small cafe and bought a container of chicken noodle soup and a thermos of hot tea, the kind Blake

e saw Ariana sitting by his bed. She was attempting to feed him soup, but her movements were clumsy. A spo

a cried, dabbing at the mess wit

but gentle. He reached up and wiped a

haking. "The doctor said the smoke inhalation was severe. It

. "It was worth it. A

h adoration. "You always wanted to be a neurosurgeo

didn't give it up. I becam

confused. "Wha

hit your head. You were unconscious for almost a minute. I have never known such terror. That was the day I

not feel it fall. The sound it made striking the linoleum was a dull

is life's ambition.

flying to her mouth. "

s arms, burying her face

r as if he sensed a presence. But then his arms wrapped around her,

ision blurred. She turned and walked away, her steps silent and

into one of Blake's colleagues, Dr. Evans. H

ust coming to see

she said, her

is to him?" He thrust a manila folder into her hands. "It's his r

, confused. Blake prized his

, right? Sacrificing his own research... but he said it's for

the folder. Her hands trembled as she opened it. Inside was Blake's official let

ness facility. The primary beneficiary and direc

ust his past. It was his future, too. Every part of his life was built around Ariana. He had become a

marriage certificate. A placeh

welling with love for this brilliant, dedicated man. Now she understood, with a sickening clarity, that even that momen

ff that path. It was

ht, unforgiving sunlight. She pulled out her pho

school. The one who had always told her she was

the second ring. "C

risingly steady. "You know that architec

idget's voice, full of exc

ng her lips for the first time in what felt like a

looking for office space! Something in Boston,

ne, at the towering buildings s

nd firm. "Not Boston. Somewhere n