't stop think

ed now, something he hadn't seen when they were first together. She was no longer the fragile, broken woman he had b

efore. Cambria was always there, watching him, studying him in a way that made him feel exposed. She no longer played th

ht was no

ss the city's elite. Maddox had been forced to attend, his presence a necessity in maintaining the illusion that all was we

aze was fixed on o

to her figure, the slit at the side daring enough to catch the eye but subtle enough to retain the air of sophistication she had

is life, Maddox found himself standing on the sidelines, wat

voice broke through his thoughts as if, by ins

l apart. Evelyn was stunning in her own right, the kind of woman who used her b

," she said, her voice dripping with a mix of disdain and c

He glanced at Evelyn, forcing a smile that didn't reac

to Cambria again. "I'm surprised sh

h. "You have no idea wh

do. She's been gone for three years, and now she's back, more p

with some of the wealthiest business tycoons in the city, laughing with a softness that made them all want to lean in clos

ead her? What had happened to the woman he once knew? To the woman

aking his head. He couldn't afford to

And he coul

vestors. His mind was clouded, distracted by the memory of Cambria's eyes and the way they seemed

l toward the elevator, he found hi

e tight, yet somehow betrayi

w, looking out over the city with an air of contemplation. When she fina

an, her back still to him. "About how I'm not the

could hear the pain in her words, the layers of unspoken history

anged. But not in the way I expected. You'

ght she wasn't going to respond. But then she turned

let it go?" Her words were biting, each one a reminder of how deeply he had

t the words caught in his throat. He wasn't sure if it was the weight of her gaze or

this time, but the words felt li

ox. This isn't just about b

llway: Victor Harrington. His smirk was unmistakable. The one man who had been Maddox's closes

," Victor said, his eyes glancing between Ma

se quickening. This w