e than being betrayed

have spent five years h

-

panic

the phone... It wa

undation of the story I'

eally orchestrat

cool champagne glass in

hing me with that unreadable expression. He h

e me take

w I'd get

im. How my body remembers his touch, even a

doubt. And I d

s people v

t too long bu

ses my skin, but it does nothing to cool the heat rising under my collarbo

terrupts m

, or are you finally rea

around. I d

me before I see him like thunder

inside, licking your

Cosmas steps beside me

Not really. Hurting you wouldn't me

s but it

play fair," h

me how," I

us. Cars, horns, distant music. But all I

breaks t

you were back

ied. "I didn't come back to

n w

ryth

r his breath,

does destroying

er yourself. You're not the

wh

or fake, can cost

here it is again that looks like he wan

the silence str

I remembe

ake my

eping my voice cool. "W

ks. "Ex

later, you handed me divorce papers. No figh

aw te

ll me, since we're talk

sil

ands on the balcony rail. His

hat I ha

eye contact. "That's not an answ

aw again. "You wo

y m

hat flicker in his e

a s

mn

u to?" I ask, softer

and for a split second, I

ys no

k, my hear

itter laugh. "So

l si

hisper, my voice cracking despite my

his voice low. "At first.

cold slap. I reel inwa

rst?"

My inheritance, the board, everything was tied up in a clause. I needed t

bl

er vaguely. A clause

ou had models. Heiresses.

trap me. I wanted someone who wouldn't d

ble," I finished

"Someone I thought I coul

re at

ivorcing me wo

keeping you

whether to sc

e. Isabelle had evidence fabricated crap. She threatened your career, your mothe

e I've bee

ve told me,

. But you were so... hurt. And I

quiet

attan don't care abo

hurts more that he left me, or

o speak when my p

ed nu

ctively, turnin

ame v

e enough. Ask him about the deal with Verdane Co

ne goe

y, holding C

o with Verdane?

nstantly. "That's

oser. "It

"Who's feed

. "You really

es

e I'm not walking away this time, Cosmas .

e first time, I see

can

y n

.. you'll never look at

-

him, heart

y m

eaches into his coat and p

ng it out, "is what I

ith trembli

it, I know one

about to change every