Scandal in D.C.

een in conflict zones, in places the world forgot. I did it because I believed

hs ago. There was nothin

Vance, was in Washington

umidity. Seven years of a long-distance marriage were finally

At Dulles

ace. I imagined her reactio

came a min

re back? Why did

e you. On my way

r parents, the Vances, had arranged. It was all so secretive, to protect her burgeoning politica

ssage stopp

house. I' m not there

ll meet y

Just... check into a hotel. The Four Seasons. I

curb, the taxi line buzzing around me. It wasn'

e anyway. I still had my key. I needed

dust sheets, like a tomb. The photos of us on the mantelpiece were gone. The books

buzzed. I

you? I told you

was sharp,

e, Kate. Our hou

security. The threats... you wouldn't understand. I ha

and you did

an't talk now. Just go to the

hung

e. Fix this. It sounded like I wa

d in the hotel, watching the news. I saw her on TV, smiling, shaking hands, always with a handsome

was just for the

Marcus Thorne, a jou

k in town, man. You

-minute thing.

n, Ethan... about

do you

The narrative is strong. People believe it.

t's politics, Marcus

ah. Politics. Just

a custom-made locket with a photo from our wedding day inside. The

t on my best suit, the one I was married in, and took a cab to t

ght. Paparazzi were everywhere, a wall of flashin

ate. Looking radiant

nd her waist, was Cody Nash. He leaned in a

art s

ding the small gift box. I just wa

pped in front of me. He was taller than

y. Where do you t

as swung

he Senator," I sai

ou and every other psycho. Get lost." He

. Questions were being sh

who ar

ou a s

man bothering

er obsessed fan, folks. Can't get close to

Kate. Her face was a mask of

rters sw

r relationship t

with Cody Nash! What a

s. The rumors Marcus warned me

fumbled with it, my fingers clumsy. I pulled up the photo I always kept there. A scanned ima

reen bright against

ear, cutting th

er hus