Her Second Chance At Love

o Ethan's side and dabbing at the insignificant wound with a lace-

cried. "Speak to me! Do not you dare leav

was flawless i

ettling over her. This was a scene

his face pale more from shock tha

phant smirk to

ed with his customary arrogance. "I told you. I woul

ening. "You? You are not

issolve into tears, to finally c

old game, using Jessica

aze, her own cal

ly at an end, Ethan," she said, her voice q

eaving him to his minor wound

closer. Someone must ha

, his taunts, they no longer pos

hing to him. And he, at lon

while Ethan was treated for his injury-

erated. "He will be fine. It is a supe

g with his bandage, her devotion on f

a strange sense of pe

rely an unwilling spectator, soo

sparsely furnished temporary apartment

emaining possessions

new designs, the simple, practical clothes s

d sketchbook, was a quiet repudi

regret. Only a quiet,

day, a new life,

a met her lawyer, Mr. D

crisp, official-looking document. "The divorce was finalized

rmly. "Congr

ent, her fingers trac

e words resonate

ound it almost buckled he

, the divorce decree

heavy, ornate diamond band tha

her finger, the ghost of her ma

a copy of the divorce decree, in

rriage is concluded. This chapter is closed. I

Merely a statement of fact

, recuperating from his "ordeal,

forgiveness for... something. He was never quite clear wh

ca feeding him grapes, when his as

ismissively. "She can steep

inced this was al

d into the living room, her ex

velvet box on the cof

she said, her voice

ho was observing her with a mi

a cool, appraising look that

ent of unease. Amelia's c

, not pleading. She simply stood

a he knew, the Amelia he c

though she sat beside him: "Get rid of her

t it, then b

ce laced with suspicion. "More trinkets? Ano

at the box. "I do not wan

ss it aside, but its unassuming weigh

xpecting some sign, so

loved with the detached curiosity of a naturalist observing a specime

than," she

out of his apartment, out of his

osing behind her was a s

straight to

e, passed through securit

her flight to New York,

ssica's number, and the numbers of every member of the Caldwe

ased their messages, wiped cle

t to begin. She would

ign Institute. He

ine smile tou