ew her marria

space between them in their king-sized

usband: charming, attentive, his h

leek New York apart

cuse. Late nights, early

or his lack of touch, his avoidance of

chool teacher, crave

ss, a quiet desperation tha

uccessful, an investm

or so she thought. Chloe was the younger sister o

was supposedly at a

dered into his home office,

en, asleep. She n

o his ema

e Vance caught her

hammered.

ere a torren

ng out words she' d nev

ing is torture. I dream of the day we can

cus's disapproval. He sees you with her and thinks that' s how

und. Or we' ll make him. You are my

hitched. Her h

apartment door.

ing at the screen, tears

ing?" His voice

Ethan?" Ava' s voice

creen. His f

hat followed w

ngs for Chloe," he admitted, h

Why marry me?"

r my image at the time. Chloe... Chloe was a

hysical has ever happen

t" hung in the ai

Her marriage wasn't just cold; it was

old him, "I want

flicker of something unreadable in h

Chloe Vance

takes SEC investigation. His company, hi

y all accoun

dropped

ide constantly, days

motional support

savings, substantial amounts, to

a dinner with the Vances? Show solidarity. It' s imp

d, still trying to be the understanding

e spoke to her, brought her favorite tea,

contrast to the years of

ense was

oice firm, after one such display. "I' ve spoken

istress and perhaps seeing Marcus' s vulne

you think is best." He

hloe co

with a pre-existing, rare kidney condition she'

a transplan

were tested. No

frantic.

polished veneer cr

t charity drive blood test last year. You' re

him. "A matc

anything. Anything you ask." He wa

destroy their marriage for Chloe,

ate man, the husband who

ught forme

ing, E

anyt

full settlement, the one my lawyer proposed, giving me the downtown condo outrig

to stay away from me after this. Completely. No c

second. "Done. Yes. Anything.

for Chloe, told Ava everything she already

he surgery. The

ainful,

e saw was Ethan in the hallway, hovering outside C

her awake, and gave a curt no

visit. He d

he' d been by Chlo

slowly, Chloe was already s

to Ava' s room. A n

to Ms. Vance," the nurse chirpe

a deep, h

g pale but radiant, was wheeled into Ava'

ce soft, "thank you. I don

Chloe," Ava said

ancing at Ethan, then back at Ava. "Th

e silly, Chloe. Ava understands. She wouldn' t

such confidence,

, at his handsome

ething inside her final

of love, of hope, of

left but a cold,

han Hayes was d

d, she went home to their

promised. He hadn't even waited for her to present them again. He must have signed

cked t

e hospital, where he wa

looking tire

You're

mbrace. "We need to talk. Abou

There's nothing to

hese are signed. My lawyer

ut... I thought... the

loe, and her sacrifice, would somehow make Ava

renegotiate the settlement?" he

voice, panicked, drifted from the phone. "E

to the phone. "I' m on my

acted. "We' ll talk lat

apers in her hand. "Just... make sure

ne, rushing b

ne in the sil

the signed d

her face. Not of joy, but o

ee

ally, bless