sheet until her fingers went numb, a

ine, where her professors often told her she had t

in Alexander's company, taking on the role of deputy

een for the heart bea

edevelopment had been h

sketches to the near-finished stage, surviving

. Still, she had pressed on-even while lying in a hospital bed with a high fever, she typed proposals through th

ld be her greatest offering to him. She never imagined Alexander would give it awa

ut up with everything, haven't you? You didn't even complain when I skipped our we

"I won't refuse, but I'll agree

w tightened at

make some ridi

? Money, property, shares, a house? Whatever's within

and a bitter smile

age, apart from the rare pieces of jewelry meant to keep up

as ready to give up so much, even allowi

way, she had stopped expecting anything from him. Maybe she h

s collarbone. "I want the talisman you've kept on

had once belon

, then taking it back felt li

request, then his brow

hing his grandmother had pressed into his hands after his surgery years

asked, almost without thinki

n. "It's nothing important. You've worn it for s

a moment longer, unset

treasure scraps of affection, hold

hat had been so close

the project transfer at the company.

n made, Alexander added, "Our wedding anniversary is comi

. "Don't bother. I'll t

t her behavior was unusual, but he c

e used to light up the moment he mentioned giving her