and a hunger for success that matched my own. I was the architect, the one with the blueprints and the structural plans. We moved into a small a

. I thought

urved this line? It would be more organic." Later, at gallery openings, he'd talk about "our" ideas, blurring th

e the mi

king on a tight deadline for the initial Skyline proposal. Jake was out, schmoozing with a potential gallery owner. Th

At the hospital, the doctor' s words were gentle b

ead, he stood by the hospital w

ce cold. "I told you to rest. You were so obs

hat day on, a part of me broke. I started to believe him. I worked less, second-guessed every design, tried to be the supportive, less-driven par

icly endorse their relationship. A

y I now recognized. "Chloe and I are hosting a small di

do that?" I aske

stop the gossip. People are talking. It looks bad for ev

my life. He was asking me to smile and applaud while he and

. Not in a loud, explosive

," I

eally? That's... that's

e conditio

yth

ng it to the dinner. I want to

id, recovering quickly. "That's a goo

ond ring he' d given me a year ago. It felt heavy, like a stone from a grave. Returni