pte

l still lingering on my t

the ghost of how it all began haunted me. I remembered the first day after our wedding, waking up to find that sam

mory down and w

n silence. Xavier likely hadn't given it a second thought; his assistant usually managed hi

s, their delicate petals arranged with the exact minimalist restraint Xavier preferred. I had set two p

s every year for five years, constantly reassuring myself that it was

ient he had to avoid without ever looking at a recipe-no excess oil, no rich sauces, low sodium, and carefully controlled portions. I had spent hours in the kitchen crafting his favorite dishes t

nt upstairs and changed into a simple

n for her sister. Now, I knew Xavier's habits better than anyone. I knew how he liked his coffee, what foods his liver could tolera

standing there, I wondered if he

He wasn't home yet, but I did

aight to voicemail. I lowered the receiver and waited, assuming he

were burning low, and the food was beginning

was never careless about his health; usually, I would remind him to eat on

ct before dialing another number: Ethan Cole, his personal a

d after two rings

as level as possible. "Is X

tation. "No, M

lightly. "Oh. T

over the line-to

th

ry," he

ogether. "Why are

he blow landed. "Mr. Kingsle

the white roses on the tab

in the room feel instantly suffocati

Vivi

till. The name hung in the air, sur

se, having dinner with my sister,

ere?" I swallowed past th

es

djusting for his health, the glowing candles, the carefully pl

I had waited for him every night, worrying whenever he worked late. And tonight, when

s voice echoed faintly through the re

e fracturing. I ended the call b

ir and the carefully prepared food he hadn't even remembered to decline. Heat

rs, I had loved a man who had never asked for my love. Tonight, I finally accepted the truth I had spent half a dec

ace and sat down alone. The candle flickered softly bet

five years, I wished I had

movements hesitant as they looked between th

put it in the freezer?" one of the maids ask

meal I had spent hours painstakin

e trash," I said, m

ting across the table, I turned and walked toward the stairs, leavi