Chasing a Statue: Eight Years Lost

the immigration office. Her father's tech money and the Hamilton name greased the wheels. What should have taken months was expedit

in New York. She had chosen to stay for him. For a man who worshi

mplete. The last legal tie binding her t

reds and yellows for muted grays and navies that Brooks deemed "appropriate." She learned to cook the bland, healthy meals he

ade. She had seduced, cajoled, and even begged. But she had never even touched the core of

touched her l

e herself. She called her friend, Chloe, a woman who had w

und energy. "Take me out. I want to go somewhere

was filled with shock. "The o

uined backless dress from the depths of her clos

what if Brook

," Alex said, a

forgotten how much she loved it. Dressed in shimmering red, she was no longer the pale, quiet

athed, her eyes wide. "I haven't seen you

ing Chloe's hand and pulling her ont

ced with strangers, letting their hands rest on her waist, laughing when they whi

k. He leaned in close, his breath warm against her ear

ex said, her eyes f

t was a meaningless flirtation, a reminder that she was still

her elbow, her fac

top. He'

asked, annoyed at

s wide with fear. "He's been watch

cold. She slowl

y his usual circle of Wall Street sycophants, but he looked utterly out of place, an iceberg in a volcano. His

e cold gray eyes,

lling, blank emptiness. It was the same look he gav

ice carrying over the music. "Damn, Brooks. Your wife's p

tting off steam." His voice was flat, devoid of any

angry outburst could have. He d

plummeted back to earth. What was she even doing? Trying

hanged. His body went rigid. The glass in his hand trembled. His gaze, once cold and empt

n't direct

her, towards the e

line of sight. A

ity D

hite dress. She was talking to a young man, her head tilted, a shy sm

st the floor. The controlled mask of the Saint of Wall S

hrough the crowd like a predator, his

s he reached Chastity. He grabbed h

?" he demanded, his voic

ure of fear and adoration. "Brooks? I was just... my

tried to intervene. "

st," he snarled, and the man, seeing th

said to Chastity, his voice tight with a stran

, her lower lip trembling. "You can't keep me

about you." He couldn't say the real words. He couldn't say, I can't stand the thought of another

apel. The years of neglect. The coldness. It all clicked into place.

ide her. He didn't want her. He just d

ble to watch another sec

lear and sharp, cut through the noise. "If she just

x f

ragile, found Alex across the room. They

thing happe

l cry. She wrenched her arm from Br

even have ti

ine bottle from a nearby table

as the bottle shattered agai

es. The club lights spun into a dizzying kaleido

etness spreading through

the broken, jagged neck of the bottle,

erything!" Cha

on her shoulder, a

thought was of the cold, indifferent look in her husband's e