Ruthless Vows

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g windows bathed the sleek space in the soft glow of city lights, but she barely noticed. It had been another exhaustin

. The amber liquid swirled as she poured, the familiar warmth promising a moment o

she s

, with gold lettering that gleamed under the dim l

mach. It wasn't the type of envelope bills or business offers came in. No, this w

ck beneath her touch. A name wasn't written on the front.

hale left

t whatever was inside

mbling as she read the words again. I

eath h

king her head. "No, this

ed Alec's number. It rang once

she clutched the note in her other hand. "You leav

l, only to redial

d no humor. "You can't just walk away

o the dial tone, praying he'd pick up. When i

ce, fine. If something's wrong, we can fix

ced through the past few weeks, searching for signs she ha

ripping the paper. "T

iting for a call that wouldn't come, a co

. And he wasn

pressed tightly against her ear. The c

d with desperation. "I don't understand wh

d redialed. It rang o

d. "No. No, you do

pping the phone so tightly they a

"If you need space, fine. But after ten y

le

ach unanswered call sent a fr

he fifth, she barely checked her phone. The realizatio

utched her phone in her lap,

called that night. "Eva

. "What if somethi

would know. Someone would have

her eyes.

en said softly. "But

se deep down, she knew s

force herself to move

. A sharply dressed man stands

r." He hands it to her w

he doorbell. It was late. S

of wine and walked toward the door. Her fingers hover

ly hoped it was Alec who was ready to g

pristine, his expression unreadable. He he

r," he said, his tone fo

tween the envelope and

here to d

nsettled her. "Is this from Alec?" He

tion. "Have a good e

the hall. She watched him disappear into the elevator, lea

h uneven. The last time she had received an u

es. A part of her did not want to o

e had

ulled out the card inside. Her stomach twisted

ood request the honor of you

th left he

o. No

uldn't