The Gilded Betrayal

zed with a low hum of vo

brochure for "Sarah Miller Gallery – Pari

t, the nex

s, a testament to years of work

ive, "Go for it, Sarah. Conquer Europe

ed, a warm, re

er to be called, idl

r badges, stood near a water cool

ean? Ethan Gold's

er, isn't he? Remember that charity auction? He bought

kidney to her, they say. After that awfu

y, a conspiratorial lean in her posture, "you he

unwelcome, traced i

About Etha

he screen. I stood, pu

People always talk

CEO of Gol

ect husband. Priva

theatrical flair that ha

stallations that transformed my small apa

fully chosen, antique pieces he knew I' d appre

gestures were

Met for a private dinner, just us and the masterpi

helming, alm

ears ago, t

ly, aggressively.

tones, dialysis, transpl

d, weak, watch

een my rock

silenced all my doubts, the one that bound me

He gave me one

iling in the hospital bed next to mine. "I've got a

not love a m

ild a life with him, trust hi

Wholehe

sulate into the bright New York afternoon, the earli

nthouse felt qui

qu

smell

ve, cloying, and d

f our bedroom, a ghost o

n had a business me

eeping work separate from

ittle later, all

ve?" He wrapped his arms arou

felt... p

ng back slightly. "Ev

it." He beamed, that charismatic smi

ust made

ring his shirts for t

n the collar of his f

my shade. I preferred sub

ach tig

llege best friend and business associate, Mark

own place," Ethan had said

of social media and fleeting enthusiasms. S

nthouse like her p

was trying to read, already dressed for a

e that bright, meaningless

I said, my voice co

new, ridiculously tiny handb

om, I w

canceling headphones. Ethan had a habit o

ucked in the corner of h

eadp

gst his workout gear, w

definitely not mine. T

ut of my lungs.

whisper. Thi

the lipstic

p and sickening, s

n a flurry

y was next week, and he was

ing with that familiar, devoted gleam. "To celebrat

attention, little

low now, a grot

he reached f

ng migraine. "I'm so sorry,

ching water, dimming the lights,

love. I'll ta

ort, now felt like a suf

he darkness, the image of those bl

the cornerstone

as a sham, a betrayal not j

n who had given me a part o

stay in bed th

arah. Let me brin

pillows, drawing t

tions, once endearing

a cold, hard anger was begin

s looking for a file

ajar. I heard voices.

d the d

d his desk, Chloe perched on the e

lightly askew,

th a tension that wa

ure momentarily fractured. "Chloe was just... upset

Yes, Ethan is suc

to the other, my f

me bolder

comments, her eyes f

ng hands, doesn't he

y – a delicate diamond tennis bra

'd say, but her eyes would seek Ethan's,

Ethan was buyin

e library. The heavy oak doors wer

. An argument.

my ear t

e?" Ethan's voice was strained. "This... arran

Or his per

threat. "I'm tired of being a secret, Ethan. May

an cold. A

nly loved me, but he had

risy was

g resolve began to

ill there, a ra

accompanied by a

s profound betrayal, for the emoti

alite, would learn that some power

lan. A way out. And a way to make them both u