One Hundred Reasons To Walk Away

Lynn

playing on her lips. She led the way to a prime table by the window, a table I used to t

finger along a velvet curtain. "Remember that tiny little bistro in Paris, years ago? The

sk, nodded. "I remember, B. You alw

o him with wide, innocent eyes. "I thought

erent. The words, meant for her, felt like a branding iron against my skin. He remembered

eaching for the menu, his gaze fixed on her. "I r

But Ashton, darling, you should ask Elise what she likes. She's your wife, aft

of recognition. "Elise? What would you like?" His vo

n't know. Three years of marriage, countless meals together, and he had no idea what I liked, what I preferred, what mad

w a full breath. The air around me seemed to thicken, pressing in, threatening to suffocat

out, pushing back my chair with a screech t

pets feeling like quicksand beneath my feet. I just needed to

, leaning against the cool marble wall, gasping for bre

ced through my haze. She stood a few feet away, her arms crossed, a

to project an image of strength I did

her eyes gleaming with malice. "He never loved you, you know. You were just... conven

anded like a sucker punch. "That's a lie," I whisp

e. Every detail, every painting on the wall, every dish on the menu was inspired by a conve

en he spoke of her memories. The truth, ugly and

a temporary distraction. A convenient beard." She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a theatrical whisper. "He ev

to Bailey, flooded my mind. My head spun. The walls of the hallway seemed to tilt, the ornate wallpa

his now?" I managed to as

ness finally dropping. "I want him entirely. And you're

cracking sound, like thunder. The elegant chandelier overhea

rom the dining room. The

rieked, momentarily forget

lic shriek that tore through th

eyes, usually so calculating, were wide with a primal fear. He looked

t second that felt like an eternity. Hi

made hi

ce that sent her sprawling, then threw him

tering cascade of dest

anche of glass and metal. There was

he last sound I heard was the deafening roar of the