fternoon: brief, coldly f

Delphine's. Dres

expected the

ext for a long mome

phi

id he'd take her to after the success

piled up. Marina's return took priority.

it was his idea o

black dress she'd bought two years ago on impulse, back when she still hoped he

ugh the quiet restaurant to a table near the tall windows. The plac

his game? An apology? She might as well believe the sun would rise in the w

an impeccable charcoal suit, his ti

n look up as

seat across from him. A glass of w

nk, swirling it like th

rant," she said flatly, "f

nner is what you earned. You handled the Aether Pr

. a profess

ly met h

expecting some

ed her. Of course. She

is payment for my work

xquisite course as if this were any ordinary anniversary dinner.

ed to be the one weaving conversation, straining for his attention. Now

defiant pleasure, her manners impeccable yet alive. He found it irritatingly fascinating-this ne

an, just as dessert arrived-a dark chocol

buzzed softly

message

candal is everywhere. Some

y the divorce announcement. Pr

. The chocolate turne

cou

mance. It was

ve just asked me to cooperate. You

just slightly. "I thought yo

, if it wer

s chair, watching he

Mr. Hardison,

arkened his gaze. "You w

e public announcement. I won't go to the press. I'l

aw fl

lled. "You were perfectly fine being my wife for five years. Knowin

ol," she sa

n't act like this was some noble sacrific

"What exactly do

You knew I wasn't offering love. You still signed that

slowly, d

e. Not as a placeholder. Not as a secretary. But as a person. A

onologue. If this is about money, my

ists. The anger built like a

," she whispered. "That's the only

It's the only language

without warning,

y restaurant like a gunshot. The waiter dropped a fork

didn't

d mark blooming on his cheek

t, ragged pulls. Her puls

, grabbing her clutch.

glass vase beside her. It teetered, then toppl

ould flinch,

t as the vase shattered inches from her feet. Shards b

tered through

im, stunned. "Yo

ed down, checking her leg

d, still

ter, stepping back like t

wel. David flicked his gaze t

of his white shirt, a dark red

pkin and reached

d I'm

av

irm but not harsh. His eyes hel

me and then play the

gold-digging and then throw you

ed by years of silence and buried t

id, his voice low, "then a