Shattered Perfection: A CEO's Downfall

ave her one of the large guest suites, overseeing its redecoration

ceit. Chloe Vance, their mother, was a ghost in my marriage I hadn't even known exis

rrying another of his heirs,

and assessing for a five-year-old. Lila, sweet-faced and sm

o their level, her voice syrupy sweet, offering them c

a story to Leo and Lila, who were snuggled close to her on

as clear: a way I

car. "A little something, for being so understanding," he'd mu

ily" activities with the children, but

ll arms crossed. "Sophia says you don't lik

true, Leo,"

And she said my real mommy, Chl

He knew her name. Liam had

ive her the pretty blue scarf Daddy gave you. She says it would look bet

had bought me on our anniversary in Paris

s innocent parroting. This was Sophia,

ale. Are you alright?" He put his arm around my shoulder.

e a brand. I pulle

a silk robe that clung to her pregn

rf Ava has? The one from Paris? I can't seem to find anything qu

to me, a glint of

e Hermes? Ava, where is it? I h

ncern for the object itself, crossed his f

d down his chest, her voice dropping to a seductive whisper. "Act

ody against hers, against the swell of her pregnancy. "Why don't we go upstairs and look for it

Sophia, her body pressed against his,

wed Sophia out of the room, his han

mth had leached from my body, leaving only a cold, hollow ache. Despair was a

, Sophia's high-pitched giggle, Liam's deeper

bring mysel

I found it. The

Liam's side of the bed. Knotte

was defilement. My love, my faith, my very essence, gro

te, unbreachable moment. There

t just broken. It