dows of Tenaya's penthouse like silent tears. She stood in her kitchen,
her clutching her coat like it was the only thing holding her together. Her eyes were hollow, swollen from cry
d, voice cracking. "I did
ight embrace, shielding her from the cold wind behind her. "You
crumbled after years of emotional manipulation and silent suffering, it wasn't ev
en the one to help Selena plan her wedding. The one who paid for her hospital bills when
elena was
that first night in the living room, talking under dim lights, tears slipping down Selena's cheeks as she talked about the affair her
hless," Sele
irmly. "You just forgot who
weeks,
ob. She brought her into the social events she once avoided-dinners with clients, art galas, business bru
oticed
ne, it was part of his nature. She trusted him. They had been married for six years, had weathered every storm imaginable. He had
hem talking in the kitchen late at night. O
suddenly became more d
she blame
Maybe Rael needed space, and maybe Selena needed heal
ing, everythi
ft her phone in the car. She stepped into the dark apartment and heard
ly toward the sl
s Rael, shirtless, lying beside Selena, who was curled into h
didn'
idn't
pear if she just blinked hard enough. But it didn't. Rael turned his head and saw her. His eyes wide
pull away. She just stared back, lips
ael began,
d her hand, s
alked
y. She went to her bedroom, locked the door, and stood th
't even bleed at first. It just s
iling, reliving every moment she had defended the
, she knew
yet. Not until she understo
at day, pretending to be confused and
n happier since they stopped pretending. You'
t just a
a dec
who had eaten at her table, lived off her gener
tion of a woman she barely recognized-one who had loved to
idn't
sm
rst moment they sho