uries-old mansion turned luxury venue. It was

ld gown with a slit up the side, the diamond

s tu

yes on her bef

wd with effortless command. When he reached her

ate," he

dictable,"

"And you're

lutter in her che

took h

on her lower back. Whispered exc

napped pictures lik

ped away to catch her breath and fou

hen she

nt," a voice said b

Ilari stood there, a

er part well," a

me

istening fro

you sure she'll sign off

said evenly. "She's too proud

after

pa

d finally. "But not befor

heart t

led. "Cold,

one who left,

. you kept

le

mine before she was a

slipping back inside befo

t know wh

Hurt?

h the crowd like

still u

ategizing

-

tel room, she

you on th

ugh loosening his tie. "

cracked. "You said I'll leave

wasn't what i

what w

sin

to be your wife, sharing your bed,

nched. "I told you from d

rly. "You said it

afford to be weak in that room. Marco wouldn'

agging me int

I've spent five years chasing every deal, every

with tears. "Y

still wearing my n

ce from her throat an

r gave me the cha

each other, b

ou," she

you d

ause I still feel everyth

es sof

r," he said. "But

urned

, she didn't

idn't sle

-

appearances. James kept Amanda close-closer than necessary. To the outsi

nda kne

wore was control. Strategy. And

ouldn't explain. Locked drawers in his hotel

n she f

-

with a misp

oard and left his phone charging on the nightstand. Amanda ignored

Final Con

s one of James oldest rival-inves

nfirmation

come public, the merger agree

art st

message aga

Divorce = de

everything

urprise invitation to Milan. The photo

love. It w

't holding

ding on to

-

urned, she

glowed near the minibar. Her ba

ft your

step. "And you w

"Because you never t

ered. "You rea

got divorced publicly, the Ilari merger wou

n't de

e rising, "not because you still cared. But because you nee

and

thing when you said I was chaos and fire. That maybe the photo-" her vo

ly spoke, c

I told you this

use

rried. Yes, that's true. But I didn't ask you to fix the contract. I d

e spinning it lik

ot a pawn," he said.

u let me believe we sti

aybe we do. But I'm not apologizi

expect me

reaching for

ving," s

on

e was quieter now.

hesi

o softly: "Beca

ed slowl

ng up when you begged me to. I regret signing deals

ked-but she kept

e divorce unsigned not because of

dn't

ence sai

ked to

ving, she tossed th

eal, James. Co

alked

-

dn't g

ite the hotel had available. She ne

closed the door,

the floor

he still

as the rea