Echoes of A Foolish Heart

5 – The

s private penthouse overlooking the Australian coa

every

awling media empire.

m-light, carefree, naive. And beautiful. The kind of l

e breath between meetings, the silence between boardroom wars. With he

exactly what

uite was drenched in luxury-marble floors, velvet lounges, a

d like fire around her towel. She wore his initials on her sunglasses and his embroider

e looked at him-green

r, wrapped his arms around her waist, and kissed her

he just

unched him

mi

her wide gray eyes, so much like his own, he

flin

e faltered. "Ma

d to push the image away. But it had come so

ething," he muttered,

outhful features. She sat up straighter, clutching the r

bed his phone an

Twice. Then som

her end. "Maxwell... oh

ammed agains

ggering back against th

aten Island Trauma. She's unconscious

and. From across the room, Isabella could see

ed, slowly wal

n't lo

nt and desperate, was still calling out: "Maxwell?

ck up. "I'm here," he ra

u," Gracie

is eyes. "I

ed the

he room for a moment,

ion that would shatter everyt

tood frozen, the robe slipping from one shoulder,

tical condition," he

back as if slapped. "Wife?" sh

quietly. "And

rapped the robe tighter around herself, trying to

to me," sh

to the bathroom. "I didn't li

ng, Max!" she snappe

hower and paused,

married," he said, almost like he was confessing a si

ow whether to

," she said, backing away.

lowed. "

her mouth. "I'm only fiv

swear, I didn't mean to hurt you. You've been..." Hi

oved to the window, arms cro

?" she asked. "Or were you just

said. "I didn't expect

ed, suitcase in hand. Is

eft the suite in your name. You can stay here as

eyes shining with fresh betrayal. "You

he said firmly. "My daughter who

away. "Do what

envelope of cash on the table. "This account is your

rly. "I gave you everythi

not what

ing. "Because it feels a

his eyes. "

idn't

leaned down, and k

r this to hurt yo

he wa

oor c

lence, staring down at t

gers tr

hest

had become? A mist

loor, sobbing unt

lly stopped, she stood

hat woman," she said a

lish love-but I won't let i

rom the mirror, h

ould

uld su

r-ever-fall for a

me

n the cabin. Outside the windows, clouds passed like silen

lounge chairs faced each other near a polished cherrywood dining table set with crystal glasses. A small chandelie

of the lounge chairs, emoti

ntercom bu

Guardia in fifteen minutes. Although it's evening, I'm showing a temperature of s

at the voice. The words ca

ter was in the ICU. Nothing a

ing I can do for you

-professional, gentle, discreet. The nameplate pinned

oat. "Yes... no. I

anything, jus

he added, "Thank you, Li

t, leaving Max alone wit

his reflection in the glass remind