THE LAST THING HE TOOK FROM ME

. Honestly, that felt worse tha

der. The words blurred under her hands, but she didn't

nths of preparing a life without her. Six

fights and billion-dollar deals. Not the face of a husband caught planning the end of a six-year marriage. N

. "You weren't sup

t tiny in tha

htened. "I meant

repare

No hesi

o denial. No excuses

he folder sl

stayed

prepare div

then back to her. "Our marriag

l. Natural end? Really? Six year

et, twisted laugh. "Na

n't re

s that ev

gs between us

sse stepped around the des

ened. "You've

been w

r w

r y

just for a moment,

home, actually present. I waited for you to actually see me. I waited for

for you to love me like your wife, not

went rigid. She noticed, always did. Si

enough?" s

eyes with he

k her head. "Don'

't tryi

answ

een them. Eveliss

u ever

. Seconds passe

lanation at least. Or the blunt honesty that the love was gone. But not

ed. "So that'

't that

ter laugh

that day in excruciating detail-the rain, the flowers, the way he quietly slipped the ring onto he

arriage on moments he p

from the ring. "Then

kered. Not much, but she

N

wned. "

uldn't a

hy

re better off

isted. "What d

p closer. "Evelis

"You don't get to decide what I deserve to

d. "I was trying

t me fr

said

what,

e. No

ace. Her hand drifted to her stomach, where she carried

way, let him finish the divorce, and never mention the child. But this was

came because I had s

narrowe

flinch. "I'

moving-cars, elevators, phones ringing somewh

ent. His eyes went wide. His li

something else-fear? Hope? She couldn't

reath. "How long

d times since the test. She pictured disbelief, maybe joy, maybe him

you known?" h

tened. "Since

re serious. "W

on

r do

es

r fa

N

at the c

N

one see

tared. "What is

g about the baby." His jaw went

hy

or the first time all night,

ll anyone

t droppe

t y

u want me to hi

" Imm

hy

s sa

r w

ou." Q

ad. "You keep saying

a

m wh

eyes. "From

at does your family have

g." He ste

teppe

se." He

ot tell t

r mo

ally my

hy

now about the child,

her stomach. "What

er hand. Something painful

hand

. "You'll

es

handled ou

tened. "That

Lawyers, assets split, decided when the marriage would end." Sh

ld determination. "Ou

hy

ans

r. There was more. Something b

k folder. "What e

u need to w

s there's

stayed

shock of contact. It had been hours since they'd touched, but her body

she forgave every late night, every missed dinner

er fast, back to

dy arranged

frowned

div

o the other side of the de

several properti

inked.

t. The coastal place. Your inve

id all

es

hy

ive comfortab

rt-way more th

hout

es

investment records, shares, companies. He'd planned every detail of her li

d to leave

stayed

e still goin

es

athered

Because you deserve a

ter laugh. "You think m

N

n wh

dropped. "

her. "Distan

ans

d from the folder-a photograph, lan

ared at it. Something abou

n. Caelen's

eli

up. His voic

on

ed the ph

ot how t

ng. Dark hair falling over her shoulder, delicate feat

-not touching, but close. In the woman's

the woman. The eyes. The nose. The mouth. Somet

oman's resemblance. It was the date

's breat

at Caelen.

dn't

, then at Caelen. "Why do y

ained of color.

stepped b

" His voic

is

finally met her gaze, and in his eyes, re

re never supposed to

ipped it ti

is gaze drifted between

oke, the words chi

oman was suppos