Henderson, clea

gh the quiet of his

e, "there's an issue with the spousal

grant was crucial for res

What kind

ument across hi

certificate from C

d, picki

hloe Vance. Dated

eath

ight. Ethan and I are ma

iciated by Judge Harrison, a c

rson look

g to this, Ethan's primary

etting the w

r marriage to Ethan ever being legally filed. Or, if

left m

nd sharp, wen

than' s execut

lief warred with a sick

paper, suggested my entire

ntinued, his voi

nificant, not just for th

need to sp

foundation of my

heart, my soulmate, was

it was shrinking, t

y washed over me. T

flashe

so charming,

adored, gifted on anniversarie

n rose gold locket

e' d found on a business trip, "just b

of the historic building I was then fighting to save, a proje

, a future filled with s

pered secrets under the grand canopy of

, felt tainted

e memories turned

explanations for Chlo

cient, Mia, a lifesaver at

y on a Saturday, he' d said, "She offered, darling. I

thing, a necessary evil

of unease then, but

ing, his love for me

was alwa

s, a little too

d supposedly made for us, "Chloe b

our house a few times when

You know how it is," Ethan would say, a casu

were alway

nt man. Chloe was his

ieve him. I had cho

ice inside me whispe

e was a carefully c

voice was

izations, his charm always

a joke, a

a daze, the counterfeit marriage

e home w

front Ethan. I

I saw Chloe' s sleek black

art p

nd walked quietly towards

s study were slightl

ssuring. Chloe' s, so

Ethan," Chloe was saying. "Living this half-

loves me. She trusts me. And I... I need you both. You understand that, don't you? Mia gives m

od ran

of love for Chl

lated deception. His selfish need to have

olute. Rage, cold and p

a drunken night in Vega

Chloe was... s

er, more twisted than

ient oaks, the world silent exce

immense, a cr

tears

illing calm s

a fool. He had buil

. I wouldn't cry.

, something in

rnal decisio

awn. I would not be

st a crack in o

oundation crum

s. I would seek i

ct life

errible reso