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the sweat pooling at the base of her neck. The restaurant was dim, filled with the low hum of expen
year whenever things felt too quiet. She had picked this restaurant. It was where they had celebrated their annivers
dn't apologize for the delay. He simply unbuttoned his suit jacket, glanced at t
ard, trying to catch his eye. "I
at. He picked up the menu, using it as a
oth, her fingers brushing his wrist. "Remember the first time we came here?
cold and empty. "Kiley. Stop.
rrived with the expensive Bordeaux, pouring a small amount into Aden's gla
. He pulled out a thick stack of paper, held together with a black clip, and sl
ing creeping into her mind that this do
en
amed at her. Petition for Dissolution of Marriage. The air vanished from her lung
spered. "Aden, it'
g his watch. His index finger tapped the gla
asted like ash. "We have a
playing house," Aden said, his voice devoi
his arms. "Seraphina Va
The college girlfriend. The one he compared her to in silence for
sked, the realization dawning on her
n up for a month," Aden said
sclosure section. The numbers were wrong. They were completely wrong. According to this, she was e
ling. "It left me with nothing. I gave up my career for you
You contributed nothing financially. You should be grateful I'm not asking for
ire in her gut. The humiliation, the betrayal, the sheer arrogance of this
flattened on the table. The anger was a living thin
he glass of Bordeaux next to Aden's hand. The
r. The water glass toppled over, spilling across the table,
eyes widening slig
plashed across his cheeks, soaking the collar of his c
hattered. He slammed his fist on the table, ratt
. She threw them hard against his chest, the
ow and dangerous. "But Jules is mine.
nd. "You? A woman with no job, no money, no prospects? You think a judge will give y
clenched so tight her nails bit into her pa
et," Aden sneered. He stood up, adjusting his wet
the plush carpet. The silence in the room was deafening. Every eye was on her.
usly, holding a small leathe
Nothing. No wallet. No credit card. Aden had
ccount," she said, her
the table, stuffed them haphazardly
e tears she hadn't realized she was shedding. She wrapped her arms around herse
steering wheel once, twice, the horn blaring into the n
grabbed it, her heart leaping. Maybe Aden re
een without lookin
h-pitched, panicked. It was Brenda, the nan
evaporated, replaced instantly by
m blaring from the phone's speaker. "His nose is bleeding, and it won't stop! I'm using t
ce, the wine, the humiliation-all of it vanishe
hoving the key into the ignit
irst yellow light, her knuckles white on the wheel. In the rearview mirror, the warm glow of
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