The billionaire's disabled wife

layed in her mind, layering over her own growing doubts about her marriage. The crisp fall air d

than. Lie

unsure whether it was the chill or the wei

rse-Elliot had sent a terse message earlier about being in meetings late into the night. She u

still slightly ajar, and her fingers itched to pull it open again, to pore over its content

to the large window overlooking the city. The lights blinked in the darknes

und of the elevator until El

e stil

in the doorway, his tie loosen

p," she said,

ng her. He seemed to sense the tension immed

m of her wineglass tightly. "You

pockets. "I don't have time for games t

wn on the table, wheeling close

His jaw tightened, and his ey

this entire marriage on half-truths and secrets, Elliot. Do

flared, but h

stration and hurt. "I know about the NDA. I kno

see the crack in his armor, the slight s

nded. "Because I was safe? Because I c

lliot said, his voic

? You control everything-what I wear, where I go, who I speak to-and I've let you, be

t shout. But instead, he crossed the room in two long

ou're talking about,"

ing to be intimidated. "Tell me the

ck and suffocating. Finally, he straigh

ved him in a way I've never loved anyone else, and it terrified me. He made me question eve

e forced herself to hold his g

"I paid him to leave because I couldn't handle what he made me feel. Because I thou

er voice softening

hollow. "What

You can't keep running from your emotions, Elliot. You

aid, his voice raw. "I'm not some br

ust want to understand. I want to know if there's anything real betwe

e silence felt like a bl

e barely above a whisper. "I can't do

away, leaving him stand

iot's confession, and about her own role in this mess. She had married him knowing he was guarded, knowing he wasn't the type to lo

She needed space, a chance to clear h

his expression weary but guarded, s

she said, her

me, she saw real panic flicker across

o think. Time to decide if this

alk away," he sai

ng us both a chance to figure out what we want. Be

r, his jaw tight, b

d finally, his

od

e air between them,

elief. She didn't know what the future held, but for the first ti

t was waiting by the door. He didn't say any

she said softly,

n she w