You Can't Afford My Broken Heart

ine Ke

g to put her out o

. I froze. My fingers, wrapped tightly around the velvet box con

wall sconces. I stood perfectly still. My heart didn't just dro

nst the doorframe, peering

f amber bourbon. His posture was lazy. His face, usually so composed and attentive when he

le. He took a sip of his drink. "Katharine is

my throat. My stomach twi

a?" one of the guy

ontrol. "The press is relentless. If they think I'm serious about Katharine, they leave Alida alone. Alida is too fragile for the tabloids. I'm setti

" another voice chimed in. "Sh

sound was like a phy

atly. "I'll make the terms so draconian she'll run

thick, too hot. My vision blurred. I took a step b

ge of a metal tray st

an

in the quiet corridor. It was immediately followed by the muffled c

de the VIP room s

Andrew's head snap toward the entranc

e carpet as I sprinted toward the corner. I threw open the heavy fire door and slip

I clamped both hands over my mouth, biting down on m

ck door, I hear

e muttered. "Get a wai

r click

s of devotion, the late nights helping him with crisis management, the endless pa

vet box in my hand. My k

wn the stairs, stopping at a metal trash can on the landing. I didn't open

he biting chill of the New York night. The wind whipped my ha

ed up to the curb, I cl

iver. My voice sounded hollow, l

y phone's photo gallery. Eight years of memories stared back at me.

again. I tapped the

deleted every single trace o

g. I pushed the door open, walked through the ma

hts. I walked straight to the living room and collapsed onto th

uzzed on t

he dark room. It wa

k in a meeting. Let'

ords. A dry, humorless laugh sc

cold tap. I splashed the freezing water onto my face over and over until my skin was numb

ned my MacBook. The bright screen illumina

lists, severing every joint account and trust link tied

re Agreement. I made the term

t it to my private lawyer with a single

me, heavy and absolute.

aled a number, and waite

ady. "I need to book a full international relo