smell of fresh coffee and Chri

ern. "Carmen! Honey, what are you doing dow

is voice soft with worry. "You loo

his touch, the revuls

he replaced it with a look of hurt. "Baby, are you mad at me for stay

I was a child. "Come on, don't be mad. I brought you

a profound, chilling sense of the absurd. This man, my hu

s and sworn he would never lie to me, that I was the only thing in

d, my voice flat as I pushed myself

hen I stepped out, the fog of grief had cleared, leaving beh

hat big charity gala for Jace's birthday coming up," he said, smiling. "I already had you

e perfect opportuni

I said, my voice smooth.

a. And I would burn h

y. Christian chattered about work, about Jace, about a million mea

st showroom, my heart stopped. Kassidy

oincidence," he said, his voice booming with fal

d, her eyes flicking to me wit

said, my voice clippe

tian said, his eyes crinkling in that

associate led me upstairs to the VIP suite. I carried the h

fitting area, I heard voices from the

dy's

r us, Christian?" she purre

she going to do? That woman is so wrapped around my fing

ly sweet sound. "But what if she f

lieve her? I've spent years building my reputation. I'm the

followed were unmistakable, a graphic, auditory assault that turned

t me breathless. It wasn't just betrayal

nausea, bile ris

breathless and smug. "Thank you for

e whispered. "I just wish w

f paper she's so proud of? It's just a piece

ars, holding our marriage certificate as if it were the most precious thing

. Everythin