Jilted Bride, Shattered Illusion

he one in control, the patroness, the powerful woman who had built his career

d, her voice f

of her wine, her eye

it onto a chair. It was a familiar, casual gesture he had performed a tho

e of her tests, a moment of drama before the wedding. He thought she was playing

ne," he said, turning back to her. "W

e not," s

walked over to her, his brow furrowed. "What do you mean? Don'

She flinched away from his touch. It was a small move

overing in the air. "W

tonight," she said, standing u

her, she had never denied him her bed. She was possessive, dema

ed, a hint of disbelief in

r voice laced with a faint, sharp irony. "That being with me was

. He hated when she threw his own words back at him. He h

st room without another word. He still believed this was a temporary

For the first time, she

dressed in a simple, elegant pantsuit, a stark contras

her that Demetrius h

he was going, Ro

ancaster. H

. "We won't be w

on all official documents and updating her passport. It was a small, administra

ace Craig had loved. She sat by the window, sipping her coffee

n she s

t alone. Cayla was with him, her arm linked through

to Cayla. He knew she liked them extra salty. He then wiped a smudge of mustard from the corn

other couple in love on a Saturday morning. He wasn' t the resentful, conf

art of the grateful protégé. He was a beautiful, hollow

her. She saw the chasm between being loved and being tolerated

hers. He had just been borrowing a life