to his knees in front of her. He reached f

r hand away as if

ne more chance. It was Amber... she came onto me! She seduced me! I was drunk,

. It was the most pathetic, insulting excuse she had ever heard. It wasn't just a lie

n any emotion she'd felt all

ous. "Don't you dare insult my intelligenc

pected hysterics, screaming, a dramatic scene that would eventually dissolve into

ng room. She returned a moment later with a folder and to

y name, as is the brokerage account. The joint savings will be split fifty-fifty. My lawy

ake. The reality of the situation was finally crashing

in panic. "We've been together for five years! Five years!

t. "One mistake?" she repeated, her voice hollow. "No, Connor. This isn't about one mis

our father? What does Harr

e began to speak, her voice a monotone, recounting a story she h

romising career in art curation to support my father's academic ambitions. And f

night "talks" between Harrison and Heather. She spoke of her mother's growing

e girl. Amber. He said she was the daughter of a dista

always been told Amber was their co

"I think she knew Amber was his. Heather's and his. But she accepted it. She

ulminating in a car crash on a rainy night-an "accide

r father, at this perfect family built on a lie. So he enlisted. He went to Afg

ing. Jocelyn's eyes were dry, but her gaze was f

mily," she said, her voice dropping to a whisper

pinning Connor to the floor. The look in h

"You chose to sleep with her daughter. The living

understood. This wasn't just about infidelity.

mmered, his voice barely audible.

are just like him. Weak, selfish, and so easily seduced by the ugliest parts o

rce of a physical blow, strippin

he door. "I want you out of my apartmen

ast time, at the beautiful, remote woman who was now a complete stranger to him. Jocelyn's fa

aving the door gaping open behin

lyn together finally cracked. A shudder ran through her entire b

im, free of the lie she

f white roses he had left behi

the trash compactor. She pressed the button, and the machine whirred to life, cr