s with quick, practiced movements. When she finished, she took out

ith only a few people in it

d. Back to b

ne buzzed without stoppin

esponded first, "Wait. What? Clai

s everyone jokingly called a miracle doctor. "This deserves a

oup. "Want me to erase your online footprint? Send me your

out time. I told you that man was never good enough for you. Claire, I'm sending you

e so quickly that the

hing inside her soften. These friends wer

reply. "I'm serious. Divorce is final

st corner of the walk-in closet. Hidden behind a row of

ments at all. Only a blac

the scanner, and with a sof

shine. Beside it rested a set of unique racing keys, a sleek high-end laptop, and a thick pile of design d

cked all of it away so she

arp instincts, her drive, and every

rts of her w

tem appeared on the screen as her fingers quickly moved across the keyboard

ast three years. The deletion included the core technology she personally created, the s

se successes were the resul

she spent awake while he slept, clearin

message "DELETION COMPLETE,"

ow, every last connectio

on her. From this moment on, they would ne

er phone and sent a private message to her c

ly. "Give me ten minutes. I'll be outs

she made a decision, she moved f

the roar of an engine reache

black, Rylie leaned against the vehicle with complete confidence. The moment she s

ylie said brightly.

produced a bottle of champagne like a stage magician. Wi

urst into the air under the glow of the sun

Rylie said with a playful grin. "So, champagne wi

but she barely noticed. Instead, a warmth fi

t wond

de, the life that truly belonged t

e tossed her the keys and rais

lid behind the wheel, and pressed t

forward, pulling away from the house before

the car remained perfectly s

d toward Claire. "So tell me something. What finally

id evenly without taking her eyes of

appeared, then strolled back three years later? Are there n

r with every second. "And Cade? Total jerk. Married, and s

outburst was so fierce that sh

get to pick up where they left off while you're expected to quietly disappear? Why make

that accomplish? Announce to the world

getting off f

ed quiet certainty. "From now on, I'm simply Claire. I'm

ifted just as quickly as it had ignited, the anger

rned the steering wheel slightly. "I need to

d forward slightly. "Oh, right. You've been completely absent for three years, and a bunch of people in

m. "The timing feels right

she continued, "Apparently, his first love needs treatment. He won't realize the truth, not until it smacks him directly in

t wait to watch his expression when he finally figures