ro's

tires screeched against the asphalt, the night air rushing in through the cracked window. I didn't ca

leaving hit harder than I expected. At first, I thought I'd feel a sense of relief, a weight lifting off my shoulders. But as I drove

d she gotten th

ht, constantly bringing women into our bed, letting her feel the sting of loneliness while I fucked around with anyone but her. The thought of her suffering... It used to satisfy me. It still does,

papers to me, something shifted in me. I had pushed her too far

be alone either. A drink, or maybe ten, was the only thing that would dull the sharp edge of the thoughts swirling in my mind. I shut off the engine and stepped out, my legs heavy as I made my way to the e

ick nod as I slid onto a s

sked, already reach

tered. "You c

to drown their problems in alcohol. As I stared into the amber liqui

e first time. I was Xandro Romano, a man who had everything: power, wealth, c

ark contrast to the heat building in my chest. I downed it in one

th pain. She'd finally seen through it all, hadn't she? She'd realized that I wasn't the man she married, that I wasn't capable

to break her, to make her feel everything

This wasn't how our story was supposed to end. I g

t was I

. I turned to see a guy I didn't recognize, a sl

red into my glass. "Just...

at you need? A distraction. A pretty little thing to

chest. I gave him a look, but it wasn't hostile, j

ghtn't fix your issues right now, but they are good lis

ould take my mind off Claire and listen to me ramble about her audacity. I se

Claire appeared. Her trembled voice saying everything that she held in her for years. I sighed as I allo

r voice became louder than my phone l

g our engagement. The key is under

hing for parties, but she knew better to be in on

s my vision swayed and I almost fell off the barstool, but I pushed myself to my feet. The room was

r Claire's name, the temptation to call her overwhelming, but I sucked in my breath and deleted h

to avenge what her f

feet. I couldn't believe there will be a day when the thought of Claire leaving me will shatter m

sn't ov