ter

asleep there after crying all night about Mrs. Kaelthorn's v

even in the morning. Jack

ht at the office again. Maybe he was avoiding her after hearing abo

car doors outside. Two car doors. Elen

Jack's voice and a woman's laugh. A beautifu

o the entrance

was tall and elegant with long black hair and perfect skin. She wore a designer w

e picture had been hanging in Jack's bedroom when they first got married. Elena had asked Ja

hen she saw Elena. "Y

rt break a little

er up and down with cold eyes. "J

. Anything. But Jack wouldn't even look at her. He

. "You didn't come home l

t her, but his eyes w

nation or apology. Ju

el. "Jack and I had so much catching up to do.

had a penthouse downtown? S

?" Elena a

laughed. "Jack keeps it for business m

usiness meetings" m

she was invisible. "Victoria

e way he had never smiled at her. She watched him laugh at Victoria's jokes. S

ctoria said. "Much better than that

artment?" Jack aske

oria touched his hand. "I re

She tried to blink them a

Victoria asked with fake conce

," Elena

" Jack said dismissively

lapped. Jack had never talke

o Victoria on the couch. Elena sat across from

"Jack tells me you can't have child

e. Jack had discussed their p

trying," Elen

hed. "After three years? Mayb

d Elena. He just

ne reason I came back to Vaelthorne City. I'm ready to settle do

Elena asked, though she

stria, Valdoria. I was the face of five major campaigns last year

, not trusti

Victoria looked at Jack meaningfully. "Someone from a good

er. "You always

Our families have been friends for generations. Our

alked about their past like she wasn't even

ty?" Victoria asked Jack. "B

stopped. "Enga

e for the first time. "T

s it, five years? We were so young and in love

ena with pity. "But things happe

. "Mr. Kaelthorn, breakfast

He offered his arm t

it a thousand times before. They walked toward the

ed behind li

toria. The same chair Elena usually sat in. Victori

table. Elena stood awkwardly

joining us?" Vict

"Oh. Right. You can sit there." He pointed to a chai

ut perfect breakfast dishes. Fresh fruit, impo

oria said. "Much better t

" Elena asked, trying t

casually. "My father has businesses all over t

s. More wealth. More eve

three countries," Jack explained to Elena, though he w

hing Jack's hand lightly. "I've been reading about Kaelthorn Corpo

ith pride. Elena had nev

ur of the company buildi

I'm very interested in seeing how y

she had a right to be invo

watched Jack and Victoria talk about business, about mutual

ly. "Don't you have any opinions about business?

business, Victoria would ask questions Elena couldn't answe

makes Jack happy," E

her tone was mocking. "The suppo

Elena. He didn't

ood up. "Victoria, let m

em," Victoria said,

h the window, Elena watched Jack give Victoria a complete tour. He pointed out

ved in, Jack had just pointed her toward her roo

ide. Excited. He looked like a man showi

silver picture frame was still there, but it was facing up now instead o

was wearing a tuxedo and Victoria wore a stunning gold dress. T

nt. Had never fit into Jack's wor

ine laughter. The kind of joy Elena had been try

on the bed

the right family. She spoke five languages while Elena sometimes struggled wi

it in his face, hear it in his voice. This was the real Jack

, she looked like exactly what Mrs. Kaelthorn called he

ack: "Taking Victoria to the of

lena was a child bein

ed. Tomorrow was Friday. Her appointment with Dr

t was already too late. Maybe Jack had already made hi

s time for Elena to let go and let Jack be

op crying. But the tears kept coming.

way he looked at Victoria. Not on

obably ne