hospital hours later, long afte

superficial apologie

sorry! I just heard! Liam cal

s face a mask of concern tha

it with expensive, ostentatious flowers th

er heart a cold, hea

nd, the one not in a cast,

– surprise? Annoyance? – before th

rmured, his voice oozing a practiced

ws, offering her water, his actions a p

h saw th

ne, the almost imperceptible twitch of his finge

a, no

ctor, she had t

iently omitting any mention of Jessica or the auction. He talked about work,

llabic. The pain medication made her gro

im for wh

h. Dec

ly obsessed wit

ting up with a false enthusiasm. "To make things up to you. Once you're o

ip.

buzzed insistently

it, a quick, f

nding sorry at all. "Gott

out into

ew it wa

returned, his expressi

ew architectural wing? It' s tonight. I know you' re not feeling up to it, but it' s a hug

as. The re

we could just pop in for a little while?" he said, t

needing to show face, about how

numb, just nodd

it matter

tering affair, held in a ne

silent, bandaged accessory on his arm. He was publicly affect

it was a

Jessica'

room, surrounded by admirers. His gaze followed Jessic

estroom, Jessic

e was pu

Jessica purred, leaning against the marble countertop

st met her gaze, her o

t' s like no time has passed. The passion, Sarah, it' s explosive. He can' t get enough of me. He told me

s, her words crude and desig

ah felt

t, echoing

' s eyes, in his actions. Jessica' s ta

a," Sarah said, her voic

ntarily surprised,

ned and w

icebreaker game was in pro

was being p

, she took it, her ha

anding near the bar, laughing with a gro

e clear and carrying through the suddenly

People turned to look at her, then at Ethan,

lustered, his

not there yet, Sarah. Taking things one step at a

the public dismissa

t did

calm, almost serene e

ed, her gaze sweeping over the c