d at her, un

ustled the trees in their planters. A taxi honked far belo

rds echoed

ing your chi

was dry. His voice, when it

.Wh

ief, his cold silence. But it still hurt. She had rehearsed this moment so many

heard

nguarded. "You... You wer

"Yes. I found out a

back, like he'd bee

tell me?" His voice crack

lready made your choice. You pushed me away. You c

ia! You left without a word. No letter. No call. I woke up

e, being your secret? Hiding like I was a shameful stain on your pe

behind him shimmered, blurred by emotions

t. No introduction to the world. Not even to his family. He thought he

d made her feel small.

he was telling h

he asked,

ispered. "His

ime with something deeper in h

know ab

s father died. I didn't want him to g

"You had no right to ta

her voice. "You made all the decisions. You kept me in the shadows like a sh

e fell

e, it was hea

ople, shaped by pride, fear, a

ath, trying to steady

's happy. He's smart, Adrian... so smart. And

owly onto a bench, hi

aying it would make it real. "Five yea

But this moment-this truth-was one they both ha

ooked up

e meet

inked.

him. Talk to

tated. "

ice sharpened aga

. "You're not the man I married anymore. And I don't know

wed. "You thin

stly. "I don't know anything

sion unreadable. "Then le

to the edge of the rooftop. The city l

"But this doesn't change what you did t

. But maybe we can fi

like a shadow. Whispers followed her-not because anyone knew what had happened, bu

l her into hi

ed from afar. Res

stillness, his

ad a

w a ball, never kissed goodnight. And for the first time in yea

ed to k

Am

r stopped w

in Brooklyn, parking across from a small town

front doo

luttering in his hand. His hair was messy, his smile wide, his lau

riend, Emma, probably-and g

oy tu

rian s

own

own

n a smaller, bright

he steering

he whi

as r

as r

ackwood h

She had promised herself she'd keep Liam safe. Away from his father's cold world. But after seei

o

idn't have t

they could rewrite

hone

was

answ

" he said simply. "Ple

art th

ka

use hadn't changed. Sleek marble. Clean lines. Cold furniture. The scent of his col

ndow, hands in his

see him," she

d

ad no

t," he said calml

argue. No

drian said, stepping closer. "Not as

ightened. "I

he said softly. "Give m

ce, looking for the

e foun

r, the pain, the mistak

always

wly. "Tomorrow.

shaky breath.

leave, but h

pped loving

pa

you too,"

the door-and their hear