The other side of the divorce papers

th tones and polished surfaces, bore all the hallmarks of success, brushed gold fixtures, tall windows, the soft hum of silence that only money could afford. But even

ile, unmoving, until the rhythmic breath beside him pulled his gaze sideways. Lena lay curled on her side, her long lashes still, her breath

mo

oved her fingers from

gns, had built entire city skylines. He had drafted the foundations of courthouses, concert

t was another blu

n't glance back at her as he stepped into the bathroom, shutting the

-

lier, they had

had given a speech, confident, charming, magnetic in his tailored navy suit. She remembered the pride swelli

charged with something desperate and soft. Lena had laughed when he pulled her into the bedroom wi

anguage of memory. Of hope. Of a shared

. He had kissed her as though to apologize

earts exposed, Lena let herself bel

smiled more. He came home early

ame th

a sharp twist of pain dropping her to her knees, the sterile

edated. He had stood by her bedside with his jaw locked, his

gentle, clinical. Words like "abnormality" and "natur

cried f

had

-

hotos from better days, artifacts of a joy that felt rehearsed in hindsight. Lena

checking in on his day. But Ryan had change

every inch of

e dinner table. The way he left the room when she

sat opposite each other eating grilled salmon and r

late," he said, not loo

ean at

noncommi

ng too," she said, her

erate clink. "You think I'm not?

ot what I

he sink, rinsing it with unnecessary force. "May

ed. "That'

ies," he snapped, the edge i

hat followed

table alone, chewing a piece of fi

-

nners. Sometimes, he didn't come home at all. The first time, Lena had panicked, calling his

time, she d

thing inside her

onment, anxiety, abuse. She had always prided herself on her emotional resilience. But in the qui

The wallpaper was still half-done. A teddy bear sat in the corner, untouched. She sometimes

pale, hollow-eyed, wrapped in one of Ryan's old swea

-

orning, he

lm, pouring himself coffee, reading his emails

d talk tonight," she off

up. "I have a n

you s

impo

mporta

oment, Lena saw something there, fru

to give you right now,"

" she whispered. "Are yo

dn't

was answe

e grabbed his br

r click

e silence in the house s