s with quick, practiced movements. When she finished, she took out
ith only a few people in it
d. Back to b
ne buzzed without stoppin
esponded first, "Wait. What? Clai
s everyone jokingly called a miracle doctor. "This deserves a
oup. "Want me to erase your online footprint? Send me your
out time. I told you that man was never good enough for you. Claire, I'm sending you
e so quickly that the
hing inside her soften. These friends wer
reply. "I'm serious. Divorce is final
st corner of the walk-in closet. Hidden behind a row of
ments at all. Only a blacthe scanner, and with a sof
shine. Beside it rested a set of unique racing keys, a sleek high-end laptop, and a thick pile of design dcked all of it away so she
arp instincts, her drive, and every
rts of her w
tem appeared on the screen as her fingers quickly moved across the keyboard
ast three years. The deletion included the core technology she personally created, the s
se successes were the resul
she spent awake while he slept, clearin
message "DELETION COMPLETE,"
ow, every last connectio
on her. From this moment on, they would ne
er phone and sent a private message to her c
ly. "Give me ten minutes. I'll be outs
she made a decision, she moved f
the roar of an engine reache
black, Rylie leaned against the vehicle with complete confidence. The moment she s
ylie said brightly.
produced a bottle of champagne like a stage magician. Wi
urst into the air under the glow of the sun
Rylie said with a playful grin. "So, champagne wi
but she barely noticed. Instead, a warmth fi
t wond
de, the life that truly belonged t
e tossed her the keys and rais
lid behind the wheel, and pressed t
forward, pulling away from the house before
the car remained perfectly s
d toward Claire. "So tell me something. What finally
id evenly without taking her eyes of
appeared, then strolled back three years later? Are there n
r with every second. "And Cade? Total jerk. Married, and s
outburst was so fierce that sh
get to pick up where they left off while you're expected to quietly disappear? Why make
that accomplish? Announce to the world
getting off f
ed quiet certainty. "From now on, I'm simply Claire. I'm
ifted just as quickly as it had ignited, the anger
rned the steering wheel slightly. "I need to
d forward slightly. "Oh, right. You've been completely absent for three years, and a bunch of people in
m. "The timing feels right
she continued, "Apparently, his first love needs treatment. He won't realize the truth, not until it smacks him directly in
t wait to watch his expression when he finally figures
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