to seat twelve, but tonight, only two places were set. The crys

on the medium-rare steak on his plate. He had actu

meat, the knife sawing back and forth with mechanical precision. The sil

anymore. The quiet

ntl

t look u

ice was trembling, but she force

his expression blank. "What kind of question

of the table. "Do you love me? Even for a second? When yo

n and wiped his mouth, his movements deliberate. "Chloe, you're being dramatic. M

ice rising. "I want the truth. E

en. His entire demeanor changed. The hard line of his shoulders softened. The irrit

o her as he walked toward the floor-to-ceiling windows.

ective. She listened to the low, soothing murmur of his voice. I

ai

ame. The truth was right there, d

nished instantly. His face was a mask of polite indif

oe repeated, her voice holl

ou, Blair is a friend. She's

d. "You've been lying sin

ard the hallway. "We'll tal

ntl

the hook and pulled open the door. "I'll

The sound echoed thro

uder than before. She looked down at her hand. She was grippi

sque

ixing with the red wine that splashed across the whit

stared at the mess, a bitt

ousekeeper rushed to her side, grabbing a napkin to pr

physical pain was nothing compared to the hollow ache in

lights blinked below, indifferent. She pulled out her phone and sc

ge. A shark in the courtroom. The only pers

hit

, her voice sharp and alert despit

Chloe said. Her voic

e line. "Are you sure?

wn at the bandages wrapping her ha

awyer mode. "Don't say anything else to him.

ign them,"

I also have a project I want to discuss with

her eyes. "Ok

rtment felt cold. But for the first time in three yea

rmin