The Contracted Marriage Five-Years Lie

ity lights still painting str

illed him, something h

. He was, for all inte

iet house in Pal

not anymore. Clara had t

chance to breathe again, surr

ovements precise, but a new en

Isabella tod

dy signed the papers, sh

dining room, expect

sipping coffee, bu

one of the antique dining c

pensive, mismatched designer ba

Ethan said, hi

– in her eyes. "Ethan. Julian decided to stay for a wh

to look at Ethan. "Major disas

rs." They usually involved un

from his morni

home. It was an intru

said, taking

coffee. "I hope you don' t mind, Et

abella," Ethan replied,

purse and pulled ou

it across the table. "A little... t

Patek Philippe watch. Exqui

Isabella. But unnecess

understanding.

ustered. "Oh. Well

m seemed to

d here soon, Isabella," Ethan

ed. "Chan

apers? Or did she assume they were just

etulance. "Is he finally getting a pers

en turned back to Ethan, a forced smile

ty, years ago, shortly

ns, had cornered Ethan, his eyes g

reeking of champagne. "This whole marriage th

ly looked at h

led a glass of red wine down the

sely for Julian, dabbing at Ethan' s suit,

g," she' d said. "H

ssessive gleam in Jul

unwavering, bl

le, Isabella continued to

ling?" she asked

et rid of that awful modern art in th

ulian. Whatev

a familiar resignati

the divorce later, whe

to make, a

himself fro

led out a suitcase from

suits for any lingering business in Ne

his desk. Clara, smiling, her head tilte

in a soft sweater and pl

ries of carefully constructed r

is only sanctuary. Soon, th

om the hallway. Ju

so cold, Izzy. It' s like he' s

Julian. That' s Ethan." I

osed his

is open study door, th

suitcase o

p?" she asked, a slight

n California," Ethan

" She sounded almost... hur

t her knowledge, even if

is suite (after complaining about the thread count of the

estless, pac

hem was thick wit

e began, th

o the bar, poured

turned to him, a stra

y over for another week," she

p from his boo

sed, "...we should f

rds him, her ey

y? Guilt over Julian? A sudden sense of marita

It was an obligation. He had a

abella," he