Winter's Betrayal: A Groom Left Behind

o a life that wasn't mine. I opened my closet to find my few suits and casual clothes crammed into one small section, while the rest of t

ther celebrities, and books on performance art and poetry. My own things were scarce, an architectural digest here, a fr

ad said with a kiss. But I hated minimalist design, I found it cold and soull't. My passion was in restoring old buildings, in preserving history and warmth. I loved worn wood and exposed brick. In seven yea

Mike, but the name on the screen was "Rachel Green." My boss. She was a partner at

ng the pleasantries. "I heard what

r," I admitted,

ghai waterfront project just pulled out for personal reasons. The client is our biggest yet, and they're threatening

felt like a

cation package, oversight of the entire project, a direct path to a partnership when

s entirely mine, an ocean away from the ghost of Donovan Thorne. The decision

ords coming out stronger than

you can pack. I'll have HR send you the details immedi

now. As I was shoving clothes into a suitcase, the apartment door opened again. It was

he asked, seeing the op

aving,

to go? We can fix this," she said, her tone conde

o Shanghai. I

can't just move to Shanghai! Wha

almost funny. "This has nothing to do with

e!" she

ere was your life, and I was just living in it! You were in love

er eyes, but it was quickly replaced

. "I should have told you about Donovan, I know. It's complicated. But we can work through it. Mike is already plann

ripting our reconciliation for public consumption. S

voice flat and dead. I zipped

blocked my path, her eyes glin

ar' charity gala next week. You promised you'd be there. My sponsorship depends

I had been feeling emotionally shattered, physically drained, all day. T

tar twelve hours ago. I am in

tic. You'll be fine. Just a few hours. Smile, hold

a costume and play the part of the supportive partner one last time, all for the sake of her sponsorship