Bitter Wine, Sweet Kiss

houlder like a lover's whisper. She stirred beneath the blanket, the weight of Marco's

she let hers

d in w

ed in

dawn. The five years of silence. The

ing in the soft morning light. Her blouse was wrinkled,

e wanted to believe him. She wanted to believe them. But belief wasn't

air messy, wearing that same sheepish sm

he said,

't return

" she said bluntly. "But your family estat

o bl

lded h

ie to me

ly and leaned a

. "I didn't just leave beca

she asked,

much I l

itter. "You ran

hout you. Like you'd eventually see I wasn't enough. I've always writ

unwilling to let

ight for me," she said. "Not

ulled up outside t

ropped. She wasn'

to the door

tall, elegant, with sharp red lips and cold

went

etly, stepping forwa

arrowed. "