oken words. The sound of Ethan's fake, rattling cough from the guest room was a constant, grating reminder of his own stupidity. He' d wake up in the middle of the night, his h

le echoed the breaking of the glass from the first night. He just stared at the

taring out at the city. She looked beautiful and lonely, a portrait of the woman he was pushing away. He remembered a year ago, on this same balcony, he' d told her he loved her for the first time. Now, another man' s presence, his

tense, unproductive day at the office to find Chloe packing a

ing?" he asked,

" she said without looking at him. "I can'

e asked, knowi

pain that mirrored his own. "Watching you let him walk all over you. Watchin

d, the admission

ed packing.

n the phone. Th

ime and you've let him stay here? You've let us fall apart over a lie you knew was a lie?" She shook her

d in front of her. "Chloe, please. I w

imple silver ring he had given her on their anniversary seemed to mock him. She twisted it, her expression hardening. Then, with a final, decisive movement, she

of metal that represented their entire

her voice cold. "Or I'll

silent all week, flared up. "Fine," he said, his

resser, the small clatter sounding as loud as a gunshot in the sil

ped bare, humiliated. He walked into the living room, his mind reeling. Ethan

than asked, his voice la

said, his voice

in mock surprise. "Wha

t out of my

Tell them your poor, sick brother was just a little too much for your girlfriend to handle?" He took a step closer. "You're weak, Liam. Always have been

ss. He felt a surge of rage so pure and hot it scared him. He clenched h

yes wide with what looked like real panic. "My heart," he choked out, his face tur

wrong? What if some of it was real? What if his brother just had a heart attack right in front of him because of the stress of their argument? Cursing himself, his weakness, his inde